10 Women Making Waves In Their Industries

Success stories are unfolding every day, and these self-made women are leading the charge with fresh ideas and fearless determination. Through a combination of innovation and determination, they are reshaping their industries and inspiring others to follow suit. These ten women are truly making a mark in 2025, and their journeys are ones you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Shelley Zalis: The Workplace Disruptor

Companies talk about diversity, but Shelley Zalis demands action. With The Female Quotient, she challenges businesses to address executive gaps, pay inequities, and outdated workplace cultures. Boardrooms need more than just policies—they need accountability, and she’s ensuring that progress moves beyond words and into legitimate structural change.

Whitney Wolfe Herd: More Than Just Swiping Right

Digital platforms shape how people connect, and Whitney Wolfe Herd is expanding that influence beyond dating. Bumble’s latest evolution focuses on networking, helping users build friendships and business relationships. Whether online or offline, she’s making sure individuals have control over how and when they make meaningful connections.

Erin Cuccio: Educator Turned Inspirational Author

Classrooms shaped Erin Cuccio’s early career, but storytelling became her passion. She turned personal experiences into books and motivational talks, inspiring individuals to embrace resilience and growth. Her writing, coaching, and speaking engagements prove that victory isn’t about avoiding hardships but finding strength in them.

Rachel Drori: Freezing The Competition

Grocery store freezers are getting an upgrade, thanks to Rachel Drori. Daily Harvest, once a subscription-only service, is now bringing plant-based meals to retail shelves. Her mission to make healthy food accessible and convenient is reaching more people. It shows that fast meals don’t have to compromise on nutrition.

Elizabeth Elting: Turning Language Into Leadership

A dorm-room startup became TransPerfect, one of the world’s largest language services companies. Elizabeth Elting co-founded TransPerfect in 1992. After stepping away, she launched the Elizabeth Elting Foundation to promote equity and women’s advancement. Her career blends sharp business strategy with a mission to create real structural change.

Jamie Kern Lima: The Beauty CEO Who Went Bare

Faced with rosacea, Jamie Kern Lima built IT Cosmetics to solve what drugstore makeup couldn’t. A bold product demo on QVC helped launch her brand into the spotlight. L’Oreal acquired the company in 2016 for $1.2 billion. She became the first woman to lead a brand under the L’Oreal umbrella. Now, she inspires women through her talks and books.

Emma Grede: The Fashion Visionary Redefining Style

Few entrepreneurs build one billion-dollar brand, let alone three. Emma Grede reshaped denim with Good American, revolutionized shapewear with Skims, and is now redefining sports fashion with Off Season, her latest NFL-backed apparel line. Every launch cements her reputation as someone who understands what consumers want before they do.

Sarah Kauss: Stylish Bottles, Serious Impact

In 2010, Sarah Kauss invested $30,000 of her savings to launch S’well. Her sleek, reusable bottles became a hit. Sustainability met style in a way that caught global attention. Big-name collaborations and major retailers came next. The brand helped eliminate millions of plastic bottles, pushing eco-conscious design into the mainstream.

Laura Modi: The Formula For Success

Thanks to Laura Modi, parents searching for healthier baby formula have more options today. Her company, Bobbie, changed the conversation around organic nutrition and broke into a market dominated by legacy brands. A strategic acquisition expanded her reach, setting a new standard for transparency and quality in infant feeding.

Sara Blakely: Reinventing Undergarments With Grit

Armed with $5,000 in savings and a bold idea, Sara Blakely created Spanx and changed how women feel in their clothes. Her breakthrough shapewear line led her to billionaire status by 2012. She backs women’s empowerment beyond the fashion world through the Spanx Foundation and Giving Pledge.