Consider the influential women in the world of business who have left a lasting impact: Sara Blakely, Sophia Amoruso, Folorunsho Alakija (a prominent female entrepreneur in Nigeria), Ariana Huffington, and Huda Kattan (founder of an international beauty empire and renowned beauty blogger). These remarkable women have built unique and impactful brands in their respective industries. Their pioneering work has paved the way for a new generation of female business leaders who are also creating noteworthy brands.
Now, let’s introduce you to five female founders who are on the path to building successful and influential brands:
Rebecca Cafiero and Molly McCauley – Co-founders of Brand Camp
Rebecca Cafiero and Molly McCauley, hailing from small towns, shared a common dream of making a substantial impact. Their paths crossed in 2015 at an entrepreneurial conference, and their shared interests in design, personal development, and empowering female entrepreneurs sparked a deep friendship that eventually led to a successful business partnership. Together, they launched Brand Camp, a retreat designed for freelancers, solopreneurs, coaches, small business owners, and lifestyle brands looking to elevate their brand and business. This exclusive retreat, located outside Santa Rosa, California, offers an intimate setting for a limited number of attendees to collaborate, mastermind with experts, and engage with a creative community.
Kelechi Anyadiegwu – Founder and CEO of Zuvaa
Kelechi Anyadiegwu is the visionary behind Zuvaa, a global marketplace dedicated to African fashion. In 2013, she introduced Zuvaa, which means “sunshine” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, after recognizing a gap in the market for African textile prints and fashion. With just $500, Kelechi initiated this online marketplace and achieved significant sales growth, with reports indicating that Zuvaa was on track to reach $2 million in sales by 2016. Her entrepreneurial prowess earned her a place on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce. Kelechi’s journey is a testament to the power of vision and determination.
Sazan Hendrix – Founder of Bless Box
Sazan Hendrix, a fashion and beauty influencer who established her lifestyle blog, “Sazan,” in 2011 while pursuing her education at the University of North Texas. In a short span of time, she gained a substantial social media following and launched Bless Box. Driven by her passion for reviewing products, Sazan created Bless Box as a platform to connect her audience with her favorite fashion, health, home, and beauty products. Each month, subscribers receive a curated selection of Sazan’s hand-picked items to help them look and feel beautiful both inside and out.
Kristen Noel Crawley – Founder of KNC Beauty; Co-founder of RSVP Gallery
Kristen Noel Crawley, a mompreneur based in Los Angeles, is a remarkable multihyphenate. She’s a beauty columnist, jewelry designer, and the force behind KNC Beauty, a brand synonymous with lip masks. Kristen also co-owns Chicago’s RSVP Gallery. Her journey began with the launch of the fine jewelry brand KDIA in 2015, and she later ventured into the beauty industry with the introduction of KNC Beauty. Known for the hashtag #lipmaskandchill, Kristen’s brand has taken the beauty world by storm. Her best advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: “Just do it! Because if you don’t, someone else will.”
Sarah Zhuang – Founder and Designer at Sarah Zhuang Jewellery
In 2016, Sarah Zhuang unveiled her eponymous jewelry brand, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery. Based in Hong Kong, this award-winning jewelry designer celebrates the unique qualities of contemporary, strong women. Growing up in a family with over two decades of experience in the jewelry business, Sarah’s entrepreneurial spirit was cultivated from an early age. She honed her skills through education at renowned institutions like the Gemological Institute of America and the Hong Kong Design Institute. Her designs are highly sought after by Chinese celebrities, and she has received accolades from prestigious competitions like the Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturers’ Association and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
These five inspiring female founders are paving the way for a new generation of women in business, demonstrating that with vision, determination, and innovation, they can build influential and impactful brands in various industries.
