Twenty years ago, women were rarely the face of a company. Today, they’re not just the face — they’re the founders, the builders, the visionaries.
In 2000, there were about 15 million small businesses in the U.S. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has more than doubled to 34.8 million. Even more striking? Women now own 14 million of those businesses — making up 34% of the total.
This isn’t a quiet shift. It’s a bold movement. One that proves women are not waiting for permission — they’re creating their own seats, tables, and legacies.
The growth of women-owned businesses between 2019 and 2023 was 94% higher than those owned by men. That’s not just impressive — it’s historic. It shows a generation of women stepping into their power, building not just income but impact, and rewriting what success can look like.
But this movement is about more than just statistics.
It’s the woman starting her company at the kitchen table while her kids do homework next to her.
It’s the leader building something from the ground up with no blueprint — only belief.
It’s the CEO who carries both her business and her family, showing up fully for both.
Women are rising — not because the world finally gave them a chance, but because they made their own.
Still, the path isn’t always smooth. Access to funding remains limited. Representation at the highest levels is still behind. And yet, women continue to show up — consistently, relentlessly, creatively.
That’s the mark of a new kind of power. Not one defined by titles or applause, but by resilience, vision, and purpose.
This is just the beginning.
Because when women rise, they don’t rise alone. They lift others. They mentor. They create opportunity. And they leave the door wide open behind them.
The next era of business isn’t just more inclusive — it’s more human, more collaborative, and more powerful because women are leading it.
And if the last two decades are any indication of what’s ahead, the future isn’t just female — it’s fearless.