5 Inspirational Women in Business

With International Women’s Day celebrating women for the unstoppable forces of nature that they are, we’ve decided to turn up the ante and make it a month long affair.

And what better way to continue the theme of girl power than by shining a spotlight on 5 incredible women in business?

These fierce females have overcome obstacles, broken barriers, and forged their own paths to success. They're the kind of boss babes who inspire us to dream big, get stronger from our ‘failures’, and never give up on our goals.

So grab a cup of coffee, put on your power suit or cosy pyjamas (no judgement here), and let's meet these five fabulous ladies who are making waves in the world of business.

#1. Melanie Perkins

Not only is Melanie the CEO and co-founder of the amazing Canva, a saviour for all small businesses (us included) but she's also a total inspiration to women in the tech industry. She’s shown us that with a bit of creativity, determination, and a whole lot of passion to bring her dream to life, anything is possible.

And we mean anything! Because Melanie and Canva weren’t overnight successes and they definitely didn’t experience an easy business journey.

Melanie started like so many others, with a spark of an idea at 19 and a dedication to her dream to make design easy and accessible to all. She set out to create her business and went on to endure over 100 rejections in 3 years before she finally got a ‘yes’ from the first investor which allowed her to bring Canva to life, all without the help of the Silicon Valley tycoons. Talk about a powerhouse!

And as if being a boss businesswoman wasn't enough, she also donates 30% of her stake in the company to a charity that supports eliminating poverty and has been proactive to eliminate hiring and gender bias in Canva, which is a huge problem in the tech industry. Talk about being a true superhero!

#2. Naomi Simson

Naomi Simson is a woman who truly rocks the business world! She's the founder of RedBalloon, an online marketplace for experiences and activities that has taken Australia by storm.

Starting her business with $25k debt in 2001, Naomi grew her struggling startup from her very own house to a booming business with 46 employees by 2011. And let's not forget the early days when it took two whole months and four days before she landed her first customer - oh, and getting told her website was "crap" by one of her first customers.

But Naomi never gave up, and now RedBalloon sells over 300 experiences a year to more than 3.5 million customers. She's all about building a business that's focused on making and keeping customer promises, and creating a brand that's authentic, honest, and transparent.

This savvy businesswoman has even started many other businesses, become a published author, and even featured on Shark Tank. Her passion for helping small businesses succeed is truly inspiring, and she's a force to be reckoned with in the business world.

#3. Kristy Chong

Kristy Chong is the ultimate #GirlBoss and the queen of innovative undies. This Aussie mum of four is the founder and CEO of Modibodi, a company that produces apparel and period undies so comfy, leak-proof and sustainable, you'll wonder how you ever survived without them.

Kristy's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for women's health and empowerment have earned her numerous awards, including a coveted spot on Forbes Asia's 30 Under 30 list in 2019.

But that's not all - she's also an eco-warrior, committed to promoting sustainability and ethical business practices. Her undies are so eco-friendly, they’ve even now branched into becoming biodegradable and recyclable. Plus, she's on a mission to keep girls in sport, partnering with PUMA to help 20,000 girls in need have access to sanitary products. Kristy is a star highlight, showing how some light incontinence experienced during marathon training can be the catalyst to create a business and product that’s taken the world by storm.

#4. Janine Allis

She's the queen of juice and the founder of Boost Juice, not to mention a judge on Shark Tank. But that's not all, oh no, this woman is a force to be reckoned with. Back in 2000, Janine had no business experience but oodles of passion and a vision to make healthy living tasty and fun. But, let me tell you, it wasn't all smoothie sailing.

She started Boost Juice from her kitchen table, struggled to find a bank that would fund her business and worked 100 hour weeks with no money coming in for three years, all while juggling three kids under five. That’s inspiring dedication to a dream!

And now? Well, she has a thriving multi-million dollar global business empire. She proves that having a positive and success-driven mindset, and a strong ‘love life’ philosophy, can help bring any dream to life - no matter your business experience.

#5. Denise Duffield-Thomas

Denise is the ultimate queen of fun and highly successful business inspiration. As the founder of Lucky Bitch, a business focused on helping women overcome their money mindset blocks and achieve financial success, she's a true trailblazer in the world of entrepreneurship and helping women feel financially empowered.

Denise's journey to success has been nothing short of extraordinary. From starting her business as a side hustle, running various free workshops and trialling a few different business ventures while working other jobs, to becoming a best-selling author and speaker and building a multi-million dollar business empire with only a small team of contractors all within 5 years.

Denise has proven that anything is possible with the right mindset and work. The most inspiring part is, Denise preaches a chill and fun business life - showing you can be very successful and an amazing work-life balance that includes a lot of fun in a unicorn onesie, and she encourages all her clients to do the same.

And there you have it, five incredibly inspiring women who have shown us that being a boss lady is not just a pipe dream, but a very achievable reality.

And the next time you're feeling a little defeated or unsure of yourself, remember these incredible women who have overcome obstacles and blazed their own trails in the business world. Because, let's face it, if they can do it, so can we!