In a world where women are not always credited for the achievements of male business leaders, it is essential to look at women who have made a positive impact in the business world. These women include Margaret Hardenbroeck, Lydia Pinkham, Rebecca Lukens, and Anna Sutherland Bissell. Learn about their stories and how they achieved success.
Margaret Hardenbroeck
Margaret Hardenbroeck was a merchant in New Amsterdam during the 17th century. She was born into a wealthy family of merchants. She began her career as an employee in her family’s business. She later married and took on her own business. She moved to New Amsterdam and became one of the most powerful merchants in the colony. After the death of her husband in 1661, Margaret Hardenbroeck took over the family’s estate and expanded its business. She later married Frederick Philipse, a former carpenter. Frederick was Margaret’s second husband, and together they built a business.
Women have a long history of business success. The first known female entrepreneur was in 108 BC. Margaret Hardenbroeck began her career as a debt collector. She went on to become the first woman publisher in America. Other women who made it big in business in the 17th century included Mary Catherine Goddard and Madam CJ Walker, who had a multimillion-dollar haircare empire. And in the 19th century, Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in Paris.
She moved to New Amsterdam and became one of the most powerful merchants in the colony. After the death of her husband in 1661, Margaret Hardenbroeck took over the family’s estate and expanded its business. She later married Frederick Philipse, a former carpenter. Frederick was Margaret’s second husband, and together they built a business.
Rebecca Lukens
Rebecca Lukens was a pioneering woman in the early industrial revolution. She ran a steel mill from 1825 until she died in 1847. At the time, her mill was the oldest continuously-operating mill in the United States. In 1994, she was inducted into the National Business Hall of Fame. She was also named America’s first female CEO of an industrial company by Fortune magazine.
At age 31, Lukens inherited her father’s forge and nail factory and took over the company as its ironmaster. She was pregnant with her sixth child when she took over the company. Despite her obstacles, Lukens urged employees to stay and complete the most significant order in the company’s history. The company’s success allowed it to become the nation’s leading producer of boilerplates. This product was then used in the first steam-powered locomotives.
Lydia Pinkham
Lydia Pinkham was a Quaker, abolitionist, and mother who forged an unlikely path as a 19th-century female entrepreneur. She was best known for her homemade remedies for female ailments. She had a neatly-arranged bun in her hair and a frilled collar, and her advertisements featured her grandmotherly image. She also advertised her Vegetable Compound, a remedy that promised to cure various ailments.
Lydia Pinkham’s company became a multi-national corporation with production centers in Canada and Mexico. She also founded the Lydia E. Pinkham Memorial Clinic to offer health services for young mothers in the area. The clinic is still operating and has been designated Site 9 on the Salem Women’s Heritage Trail.
Anna Sutherland Bissell
Anna Sutherland Bissell was the first female CEO in the United States and the first female CEO of a major corporation. As the CEO of the Bissell Corporation, she aggressively marketed her carpet sweepers across North America and Europe. She survived her husband by 45 years and remained the company’s chair until death. In 2006, her business was honored with a statue, and in July 2016, she was honored with a seven-foot statue. It is located outside the DeVos Place Grand Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan She even attracted the attention of Queen Victoria, who was a loyal customer. Bissell also pioneered business practices that are still in use today, including employee benefits and pension plans.
Anna Bissell, one of the first women to join the National Hardware Men’s Association, is buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although she died at the age of 76, her legacy lives on. She survived her husband by 45 years and remained the company’s chair until death. In 2006, her business was honored with a statue, and in July 2016, she was honored with a seven-foot statue. It is located outside the DeVos Place Grand Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Nicole junkermann mary barra
Founder of NJF Holdings and current Chief Executive of General Motors, Nicole Junkermann, is one of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs. Born in Germany, she studied economics at Cologne University and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She has also donated millions of dollars to numerous charitable organizations. She is also a member of the Bilderberg Group, a global group of political and business leaders.
Whether you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or an established businesswoman, you’re bound to be inspired by the achievements of Nicole Junkermann Mary Barra. Their business acumen and sharp leadership skills set them apart from their male counterparts.
