This month we celebrate Women. We celebrate the success of women, the impact women have had, and the changes that women have led to. There is absolutely no shortage of inspirational women, especially in the workplace, and they deserve to be recognized. To cap off our celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting 4 female leaders who have changed the game for women in the workplace. Check them out:
Sheryl Sanberg-COO of Facebook
Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook and was the first woman to be instated on their executive board way back when. She has also been named in the top 10 of Forbes list of the most powerful woman in the world numerous times. Sandberg is also the author of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. The book is so iconic that its title became a saying in itself-the “lean in moment,” in which women take charge of their careers and begin to realize their true potential as leaders. Another thing that makes Sandberg so great is her extension to men. She vouches that equality in the workplace doesn’t just help women, it helps everyone.
Sallie Krawcheck-CEO of Ellevate Network, previously CEO of Bank of America
Krawcheck founded Ellevate, a network where female professionals can connect and help each other achieve their goals. By helping women achieve their financial, professional, and personal goals, Krawcheck enables women to lead better lives overall. Her influence doesn’t stop there as she is also the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a digital-first, mission-driven investment platform for women; Chair of the Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund, a fund that invests in the top-rated companies for advancing women; and the best-selling author of “Own It: The Power of Women at Work.” If you need inspiration for achieving your goals, it can definitely be found through one of Krawchecks’ platforms.
Ursula Burns-First African American woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company
In 2009, Ursula Burns was named the CEO of Xerox, making her the first African American woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Her success did not stop there as she went on to not only hold other CEO roles but also helped spearhead Barack Obamas STEM program in 2009. This has made her a powerful advocate for females interested in STEM careers. Burns has also made Forbes list of the most powerful women in the world.
Whitney Wolfe Herd-Founder and CEO of Bumble
In case you missed it, Whitney Wolfe-Herd became the world’s youngest self-made, female, a billionaire on February 11th after making the company go public. She did all of this with her 1-year-old son on her hip. If that doesn’t scream “powerful woman”, I’m not sure what does. Out of nearly 600 companies that have gone public in the past year, only two others were founded by women. Wolfe-Herd has made Forbes list of “30 under 30” a few times and can be looked at as an inspiration to young entrepreneurs, and women in general, everywhere.
These are just four out of thousands of women who have made their mark. While there is still work to be done as far as equality in the workplace, these female leaders have spearheaded the fight. Their hard work, determination, commitment to change, and dedication to their fields are admirable. The message they have each created is empowering and inspires other women to BE the change with them.
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