2024 witnessed the rise of new generation entrepreneurs who are doing extremely well in their fields, especially women. This year has significantly highlighted the leadership style of women founders, who are leading the charge in change and growth across different industries.
The female entrepreneurs of 2024 are shining examples of progress, blending technology, social impact, and economic growth in powerful ways. Coming from diverse backgrounds, they each bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas to the table. Their dedication and forward-thinking are not only shaping their industries but also paving the way for the future of entrepreneurship.
Top Female Founders of 2024
The year 2024 has witnessed an impressive wave of innovation and leadership from female entrepreneurs reshaping industries and significantly impacting various sectors. From technology and finance to healthcare and sustainability, these visionary women drive business success and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entrepreneurial world.
Their resilience, creativity, and determination have set new benchmarks for what it means to be a founder in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Below are some of the top female founders of 2024 who are leading the way in their respective fields.
1. Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely, the American businesswoman and philanthropist, is the founder of Spanx. The women’s shapewear and undergarments company now stands as a billion-dollar business, which was started with an investment of $5,000. First Spanx’s product was designed by Blakely to have comfort and feel confidence in clothes. Later, she expanded her business from her hometown to a global platform, revolutionizing the industry of shapewear and undergarments.
Success did not come easy to Blakely, she faced several rejections before cracking her first big retail deal, which helped the company to grow at a global level. Today, Spanx is known for promoting body positivity and innovation in women’s fashion. Besides her business achievements, Blakely is also recognized for her generous philanthropy, having committed to donate half of her wealth to charity. This makes her not only a successful entrepreneur but also a strong advocate for empowering women through both her products and her giving.
2. Melanie Perkins
Melanie Perkins is cofounder and chief executive officer of Canva, a design platform, which has revolutionized the graphic designing industry in the last few years. Canva was started as a small startup to create an easy option for small-scale businesses. However, the platform turned out to be a big success with multi-billionaire companies using it with millions of direct users.
The convenient features of Canva like drag-and-drop allow inexperienced users to create an effective design. Perkins wanted to make design accessible to everyone, and her success with Canva shows how dedicated she was to this goal. She faced many challenges at the start, like finding funding and convincing investors her idea would work. But her hard work paid off, and today, Canva is an essential tool for people and businesses around the world. Perkins’ journey from a college student with a big dream to the CEO of a global tech company is truly inspiring for future entrepreneurs.
3. Whitney Wolfe Herd
Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder of Bumble, a dating platform that is expected to exceed the downloads of Tinder by the end of the quarter. Herd is a former Tinder employee, who set out to create a dating platform that is safe for women and allows them to make the first move. The feature was unique in the dating spectrum and gained huge popularity in a short time.
Bumble became one of the fastest-growing dating apps and now it is all set to exceed the downloads of Tinder. The platform has set itself apart from rivals by providing options to connect with other people and make friends while other platforms exclusively provide dating options. Herd’s journey has been inspiring and shows her optimistic approach to business.
By the end of Q3 2024, Bumble had a total of 4.3 million paying users, which was 3.8 million in the previous quarter.
4. Lacey Jones
Lacey Jones, founder of Complete Skin Makeover, has a story as unique as her skincare approach. After working as a model, TV host, and sponsored poker player, while also overcoming personal struggles, Lacey turned to skincare out of necessity and strength. Her journey, starting with a tough experience at 14, led her to explore her mother’s home remedies and later, wisdom from Asia.
This path not only helped her take better care of her skin but also inspired her to create her holistic skincare line. Lacey sees Complete Skin Makeover leading the way in holistic skincare in the next five years. With a growing email list and helpful content, like the upcoming Detox Guide, she’s dedicated to helping customers live a low-tox life for healthier skin.
5. Katie Smetherman
Katie Smetherman is the founder and chief executive officer of Brand Studio Creative, a company that helps businesses create their own and authentic brand identities. Smetherman’s company has become one of the renowned names in the brand marketing industry. For the last three years, she has been revolutionizing and innovating new ideas to help businesses grow and create an authentic brand.
Women face many challenges in the workplace and even in top management. However, the rise of women-owned businesses is helping create a more balanced business landscape, traditionally dominated by men. Upcoming years will see more successful businesses owned by women which helps in uplifting a large ratio of working females.
