How Women Leaders Are Shaping the Business World in 2023

With the intangible value of women in the business world, you would think they’d be treated and supported better. 

But unfortunately, women face challenges that make it hard to succeed. Lack of funding for women-owned businesses, disregard for women’s perspectives and contributions in the workplace, balancing childcare responsibilities, and unequal pay are all barriers many women face in the business world. 

With challenges like these, it can be hard to find the will to thrive despite them. But if you’re looking for some inspiration to continue on in the business world, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s explore how women leaders are making waves in the business industry this year despite setbacks and how you can too. 

The Growing Trend of Women in Business 

Women are solidifying themselves in business, and it’s starting in business school. According to a Forte Foundation report, women’s enrollment in business schools increased in 2022, with 17 prestigious business schools having women make up  45% of their student bodies. 

We can attribute this increase to recruitment strategies tailored to women, the availability of more women-centric scholarships, and additional resources and support geared toward ensuring women have what they need to finish business school. 

The growing trend of women in business doesn’t stop with school. Women make up over half of the workers in the U.S., creating careers in business that range from support staff positions to executive roles. Business-based mentorship programs for women are emerging. And women are continuously creating their own networks, conferences, events, and resources to support more women in establishing themselves in the business industry. 

In addition, more and more women and young girls are showing the world what they’re doing as business owners and employees, increasing awareness, opportunities, and access to resources for women in business. 

More women in business is better for the industry and individual workplaces. With them, company valuations are higher. They have unique skills such as empathy, patience, and communication. They also lead companies to prioritize diversity and lean on multi-dimensional decision-making. 

Top Female Leaders in Business Today

Everyone’s list of top female leaders in business today will be different. Many will include big names like Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates, Karen Lynch, and Mary Barra on their lists because of how long they’ve managed to sustain success and continuous growth. 

Others compile more sector-specific lists, like this list of top female leaders in sales businesses that includes: 

• Adriana Karpovicz, Stilingue’s sales director;
• Beatriz Zogaib, JustForYou’s cofounder; 
• Cecilia Inostroza, Terre Solaire’s sales director; 
• Isabelle Hermann, Savage X Fenty’s senior marketing manager;

There’s no shortage of female bosses in business today. Each has a unique narrative about how they got to where they are in the business industry, full of interesting setbacks, opportunities, and stories of sheer luck. 

What these women do have in common are certain qualities that made them successful businesswomen. 

Qualities of a Successful Businesswoman

Each woman brings a unique set of qualities to their journey in business that drives their success. But over time, there’s been lots of research on what specific qualities make a woman successful in business.

This short list is by no means exhaustive. And even if you lack them, there are ways to develop these qualities and use them in conjunction with your natural talents to be the most successful businesswoman you can be. 

Perseverance

Remember those challenges women face in business mentioned above? You must get through them and the other turbulent times you’ll face in your journey if you want to be successful. Doing so requires lots of perseverance. 

Despite how difficult something is to achieve, you must challenge yourself to keep going until you get there. 

A great communicator and listener

Although voicing your opinion is critical in any business workplace, there’s a lot more that goes into being a great communicator. And you must learn what that more is to be a successful businesswoman. 

A huge part of it is being a good listener. Genuinely absorbing what your team, stakeholders, customers, and others involved in your business have to say through active listening is crucial. You can learn so much about what’s working, what isn’t, and how to get on a more successful pathway. 

When it’s your turn to speak, it’s essential not to talk at people. Instead, talk to them in a welcoming tone and share things in ways they can resonate with. 

Embraces creativity and innovation 

If business is anything, it’s unpredictable. Business trends are ever-changing. Data is ever-growing. Customer needs and wants evolve. Problems arise. Teams grow. Company needs and goals change. 

You must be able to adapt to all that’s thrown at you in business. Embracing your creativity and knack for innovation will help tremendously. You’ll be able to think outside the box and solve problems more efficiently because of it.  

Starting a Women-Owned Business

If you’re ready to step out of your role in another business and into entrepreneurship with your own women-owned business, there are a few things to keep in mind when starting. 

First, make sure your business idea is viable in the market you’re hoping to tap into. Ensure it can thrive in your particular sector and that it’s something your target audience needs. Social media is a great place to start for target audience research. And government websites and market research firm sites can be useful for market research. 

After that, it’s important to dig into finances. You must understand how much it will cost to launch your business and maintain it each month. It’s also essential to know how much profit you want to make and what you’ll need to do to cover personal expenses while your business gets off the ground. 

Dig into these things first and then fill in the details of a business plan to solidify the direction of your business. 

Whether you want to start your own business or be a part of a company, you too can be a woman leader shaping the business industry. 

This guest post was authored by Ainsley Lawrence

Ainsley is a writer who loves to talk about how business and professionalism intersect with the personal, social, and technological needs of today. She is frequently lost in a good book.

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