Move over Tom, Dick, and Harry Steve, Jeff, and Warren. Women are taking over the business world one awesome company at a time. In the not so distant past men were considered more suited to business, but the reality is women are natural entrepreneurs, meaning, they were BORN to do it.
Women possess the innate abilities that are mandatory for entrepreneurs who want to make it and make it big. Succeeding in business today requires intuition, teaming up with competitors for mutual elevation (rather than trying to destroy them), and sharing talents, information, and resources (rather than keeping secrets)—these are all the inherent talents of women.
More and more women are launching companies today, but I bet you didn’t know women also founded these mega-companies:
1. Flower Films – Founded in 1995 by Drew Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen, Flower Films has grossed more than $870 million worldwide and produced such hits as Never Been Kissed (their very first movie), Charlie’s Angels, Donny Darko and Fifty First Dates. Barrymore and Juvonen had zero producing experience when they launched and now are a powerful force in the entertainment industry.
2. The Baby Einstein Company – Julie Aigner-Clark launched The Baby Einstein Company in 1997 from her living room, producing the first of a series of Baby Einstein videos for babies and toddlers and grossing $10 million in sales in less than three years. One year later The Walt Disney Company snapped it up for an undisclosed amount (translation: mega bucks).
3. PC Connection – In 1982 Patricia Gallup founded this direct computer supply business with her business partner, David Hall with a combined investment of $8,000. The company went public in 1998 (symbol: PCCC) and is now a Fortune 1000 company, with annual revenue exceeding $1 billion since 1999.
4. Discovery Toys – A former pre-school teacher, Lane Nemeth founded Discovery Toys in 1978 with a $5,000 loan from her Grandma (hello TPE!). Nemeth recruited people to become educational consultants, selling children’s toys, books, and software in the home. She grew the company to more than $100 million in sales, and sold it to Avon Products, Inc. in 1997. Five years ago Nemeth launched Petlane, which employs the same method for selling toys and other products for pets.
5. Omega World Travel – Founded in 1972 by Gloria Bohan, Omega World Travel began as an independent travel agency and grew to become the fourth largest travel management company in the U.S. With earnings of $1.2 billion a year, it’s not hard to see why Bohan was inducted into the Enterprising Women’s Hall of Fame!
6. YOUR COMPANY! – The next super-successful woman entrepreneur could be you should be you. These companies were started with little or no money, in garages and living rooms, often with kids in tow and day jobs. If these women can do it, you bet your ass you can do it. And guys, if you want to rise to the top like the amazing women in this post, start doing what you’ve avoided doing all of your life: act like a girl.
By Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur
