March is Women’s History Month! So, at Estafeta USA we’d like to honor women and their amazing presence in business. Not only are women in business active, resourceful, and caring, besides smart, but they also run homes, and families. And yet, most are still underpaid, compared to their male colleagues, and have to battle stereotypes and fewer opportunities.
Female Business Leaders, breaking the glass ceiling, but still a long way to go.
Did you know that as of 2021 women made up 8.1% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies? That’s 41 female CEOs. And even though it’s a small number, 10 years ago it used to be 12, 2.4%. So, if there are so few women CEO, they must be pretty extraordinary professionals, to have gotten to the top positions.
Imagine how much they have to say about their journey to the top.
For this two-part series, we’ve selected female business leaders who made it to the top as CEOs and/or founders. There’s a lot of insight and inspiration in who they are and what they have to say.
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“My definition of ‘innovative’ is providing value to the customer.” Mary Barra, General Motor’s CEO.
Mary Barra is the first female business leader in one of the big three American automakers. She started at GM in 1980 and was appointed CEO in 2014. Her current focus is on advancing personal mobility technologies like connectivity, electrification and autonomous driving.
“Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity – time”. GM’s profile on Mary Barra
In January, Barra and GM announced that the company plans to be carbon neutral by 2040.
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“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.” Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop in 1976. Started a small, cashed strapped business of natural ingredients cosmetics. Her purpose was not to get rich, just survive, as she was looking for a way to make ends meet. However, by combining low-key marketing, consumer education and environmental activism, this humble business did more than survive. “The Body Shop grew into a $16 billion global cosmetics business and made Roddick one of the richest women in England”. Entrepreneur.com
Please stay tuned! In the second part of our special about Female Business leaders, we’ll bring you profiles of other great women. At Estafeta USA we celebrate women in all of their roles, and feel proud of every woman in our work team!
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