5 Women CEOs to Inspire Your Career

Have you ever browsed a list of top CEOs on the internet, only to find that the list is seriously lacking some female representation? Women bring so much value to leadership and C-level positions, often leading companies to become more profitable and more socially responsible, but these male-dominated lists aren’t representative of that. To show you that women not only belong in leadership but innovate entire industries, we’ve gathered five examples of successful women CEOs who blazed trails in their fields. 

Whether you’re interested in shattering the glass ceiling or building your own successful small business, these boss women’s stories and quotes will empower you to break down gender stereotypes. 

1. Kimberly Bryant — Tech 

As a self-proclaimed “nerdy mom,” Kimberly Bryant started Black Girls CODE as a way to encourage her own daughter and others like her to pursue their interests in tech and STEM. As CEO, she makes it her mission to use her experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries to increase diversity in tech and create avenues for all underrepresented groups to learn skills like blockchain and web design. Bryant serves as inspiration for other moms to solve problems and champion inclusion for future generations in tech. Read her quote below for motivation for career success. 

“As business leaders and entrepreneurs, you can get distracted by all the opportunities. But we’re going to focus, we’re going to get it right, and we’re going to do it better than anybody else.” — Kimberly Bryant 

2. Helen Hanna Casey — Real Estate 

Named the most powerful woman in real estate, Helen Hanna Casey has set the bar high for women realtors. As CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, she’s at the helm of one of the largest real estate companies in the U.S. and has been lauded for her management and leadership style. If you’re a woman in real estate aspiring toward the C-suite, take some mentorship advice from the top leader herself.

 “First of all, I think mentorship is more than just women mentoring women. More men have to be involved with mentoring women.” — Helen Hanna Casey 

3. Melanie Perkins — Graphic Design

At the age of 19, Melanie Perkins wanted to make graphic design simpler and more accessible for everyone. Together with her boyfriend, she co-founded Canva while at university. Today, her company is valued at $15 billion, with Perkins being one of the youngest female CEOs in tech. Perkins now has her sights set on developing products that will compete with design giants like Adobe, and we can’t wait to watch her do it. Find some inspiration for leading a company to bigger and better things below.

“As a leader, I feel my job is to set the vision and the goals for the company, and then to work with everyone to empower them to dream big and crazy.” – Melanie Perkins

4. Whitney Wolfe Herd — Tech 

When it comes to love, Whitney Wolfe Herd believes that women should take things into their own hands. That’s why she started Bumble in 2014, a dating app that lets women make the first move by sending the first message. Bumble was bound to be a success given her experience as a Tinder co-founder prior, and nearly seven years later, Wolfe Herd has grown the app to cultivate friendships and networks in addition to romantic relationships. Take inspiration from Wolfe Herd and learn that the secret to Bumble’s success is focusing on the customer first.

“We’ve always been committed to ... protecting the customer and really focusing on women’s needs.” — Whitney Wolfe Herd

5. Rosalind Brewer — Business

Making history as one of the first Black women to run a Fortune 500 company when she became the CEO of the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer has been blazing trails in business for decades. Her impressive resume lists multiple C-level positions across large companies like Starbucks and Sam’s Club, and her years of experience have wizened her to the bias that women and especially women of color, endure in business. For inspiration on how to push back on the bias from others and self-doubt that may happen along the way, check out her quote below.

“You get mistaken as someone who could actually not have that top job. [...] Sometimes people assume you’re in the wrong place, and all I can think in the back of my head is, ‘No, you’re in the wrong place.’” — Roz Brewer

Women of all ages and backgrounds bring incredible value to leadership positions across a variety of industries. They use their skills, talent, passion, and creativity to innovate and solve problems across the globe. Use these five shining examples of women CEOs as inspiration for you to start your own journey toward the C-suite. One day, it might just be your name being highlighted on a list of boss CEOs.