Historic Women in Business: Bosses Who Paved the Way
These five bad-ass ladies shattered ceilings long before we had a name for it
When we think about business leaders even today, the image that often comes to mind is…well, not generally female. But long before #girlboss and glass ceilings were a topic of discussion, several historic women were building empires and proving that ladies could manage more than the tea service.
Mary Katherine Goddard (1738–1816): Revolutionary Printer
Mary Katherine Goddard was a trailblazer in printing and publishing, a field otherwise dominated by men in the 18th century. She launched and managed several newspapers, including the Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser. But her role in what is perhaps US history’s most famous document is what cemented her legacy.
In 1777, the heart of the Revolutionary War, Mary Katherine was entrusted with printing the first copy of the Declaration of Independence to include the signers’ names. This wasn’t just a show of technical skill; it was also an act of pretty serious bravery. Printing the Declaration made her a target for British forces who were none too pleased with us uppity Americans.
As Baltimore’s first female postmaster (which likely made her the US government’s first female employee), Goddard had a critical role in enabling communication during the war, something that required both skill and grit.
But her career wasn’t without setbacks. In 1789, she was forcibly removed from her postmaster role by the government, under the insulting claim that the heavy travel required by the position was better suited to a man. Cool cool cool. Despite this, her work left an indelible mark on the city of Baltimore as well as the greater American story.
Madam C.J. Walker (1867–1919): Self-Made Millionaire
Born Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana, Madam C.J. Walker rose from poverty to become one of America’s first self-made female millionaires. Her journey began in the perhaps stereotypical field of hair care, as Walker suffered from scalp issues that led her to experiment with homemade cures. She eventually developed a line of products tailored for Black women, addressing a market that had been almost entirely overlooked.
In 1906, Walker launched her business and began traveling the country to demonstrate her products. And she didn’t stop at hair care; she created a “Walker Agent” program that ultimately trained thousands of Black women in the art of sales and personal branding. Her agents helped grow her empire while gaining their own financial independence; a rarity for women, and particularly Black women, of the time.
In a pretty bad-ass move, she wrote into her company charter that only women could serve in the role of president.
Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Walker was also a philanthropist and activist who supported civil rights and educational causes. Her story is a testament to the power of innovation, grit and a belief in the exciting potential of underserved communities.
Side note: I’ve seen “Madam” spelled both with and without a final “e”, sometimes within the same source. This type of inconsistency in name spelling hasn’t been uncommon in my research for this website. I’ve gone with the non-e version, as that one seemed to be slightly more commonly used.
Elizabeth Arden (1884–1966): A Household Name
Born Florence Nightingale Graham, Elizabeth Arden redefined beauty at a time when makeup was taboo and associated mainly with prostitution. Arden sought to change that. Her approach was revolutionary: she reframed makeup from a tool of vanity to a form of empowerment, appealing to modern, professional women.
In 1910, Arden invested $1,000 (the equivalent of $33k today) to open her first salon on Fifth Avenue in New York City. From there, she built an empire that would forever change the cosmetics industry.
This business wasn’t just about products, it was about creating a lifestyle. Arden introduced innovations like the “makeover experience” in her salons and used scientific research (with her lady brain??) to improve the quality of products.
During World War II, she developed “Montezuma Red,” a bold lipstick that matched the uniforms of female soldiers, skillfully blending practicality with style. The military issued female soldiers this lipstick along with rogue and nail polish in their official kits. Hey, only what you need to survive, right?
Eventually, Arden’s company became a global household name that is still known today.
Helena Rubinstein (1872–1965): A Cosmetics Mogul
Helena Rubinstein was a pioneer who built her beauty industry empire on the promise of high-quality skincare. Born in Poland, she emigrated to Australia in 1896 after deciding she didn’t really want to marry the man her father had chosen for her. Once there, she began selling jars of face cream inspired by her family’s homemade recipes. In 1902, she opened her first beauty salon.
Rubinstein’s genius was her ability to combine science (all these women tinkering in science!) and marketing. She introduced innovations like sunscreen and anti-aging creams, concepts decades ahead of their time, and traveled the world studying beauty rituals to incorporate into her brand and products.
By 1941, she had built up a fortune of $25M, equivalent to nearly $800M today. Fiercely ambitious, she often clashed with the afore-mentioned Arden, sparking one of the greatest rivalries in cosmetics history. Scandalous!
Her company eventually spanned continents, making her one of the wealthiest women of her time. Rubinstein’s legacy endures as a testament to the transformative power of strategic vision and hard work.
Olive Ann Beech (1903–1993): First Lady of Aviation
When Olive Ann Beech co-founded Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1932 with her husband, she was involved in nearly every aspect of the business, from finances to marketing. When her husband passed away in 1950, Beech stepped into the role of president, guiding the company through one of its most successful periods.
Under her leadership, Beech Aircraft produced planes that were essential to the US military during World War II, as well as popular commercial models. Known for her skillful business acumen and ability to stay calm under pressure, Beech became one of the most respected leaders in aviation; a rarity for a woman at the time.
Beech Aircraft was a family business with serious global impact until she chose to sell it to Raytheon for a cool $800M (somewhere around $3B today). Beech’s contributions helped shape modern aviation, earning her a place in the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the respect of an industry that still rarely acknowledged women’s leadership.
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