Inspiring Stories of Successful Women in Business: From Small Beginnings to Big Successes

Building a business is a super exciting journey, but it’s not a simple or fast process. It requires dedication, patience and time. 

If you’re an entrepreneur (or an entrepreneur in the making) you probably know what I mean. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but the feeling of accomplishment when you do get it up and running is absolutely amazing. 

Remember: We All Started Somewhere

When we talk about successful women in business, it’s important to also talk about where they started. 

When someone is very successful, it’s easy to ignore the failures and all the lessons they learned along the way.

This is dangerous, because when you assume it was easy for them, it becomes really hard to understand why it’s not so easy for you. 

But many of them started small, faced rejection and had to start over many times. 

Today, we'd love to introduce you to three of these incredible women entrepreneurs who have walked this path, overcame business challenges and rose beyond the ordinary.

Their stories are a proof that extraordinary things can happen when you have faith in your abilities and when you dare to dream big.

Reshma Saujani | Girls Who Code

First, let's take a look at Reshma Saujani. 

Reshma is well known for her amazing TED Talk on why we should "teach girls bravery, not perfection." 

If you haven’t seen it yet, it's well worth your time. 

She began her career as an attorney, and later became the first Indian American woman to run for the US Congress. 

Although she didn't win the election, having the courage to run was a huge step for her. Reshma was super proud of her courage to run and face her fears. 

And it was during her campaign that she discovered a significant gender gap in computing classes at schools.

This revelation was a turning point in her life. 

Instead of seeing her unsuccessful election as a failure, she decided not to let this setback stop her. And that’s when she launched "Girls Who Code", a non-profit organization aiming to support and increase the number of women in computer science. 

She started a revolution, helping countless girls discover their passion for technology. Today, "Girls Who Code" is one of the most prominent and respected non-profits in the US. 

Julia Hartz | Eventbrite

Next on our list of inspiring women entrepreneurs is Julia Hartz. 

She co-founded Eventbrite in a small office back in 2006. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including financial crises and a global pandemic, Julia never gave up. 

Instead of letting these difficulties stop here, she kept innovating and adapting.

For the first four years, she relied heavily on bootstrapping and couldn’t even think about hiring help. 

But she powered through and managed to turn Eventbrite into a global platform that, in 2022 alone, ticketed five million events across nearly 180 countries. 

Her story is proof of how resilience can transform small beginnings into massive success stories!

Melanie Perkins | Canva

Finally, let's dive into the journey of Melanie Perkins, the co-founder of Canva. 

Melanie, a former graphic design tutor, recognized a common struggle among students when trying to master complex software like Adobe Photoshop. 

This sparked the idea of Canva – a platform designed to make graphic design easy and accessible for everyone.

Melanie faced her fair share of rejections. She received countless "no's" from investors, but she stuck to her guns. 

Despite these challenges, she persevered, turning her dream into one of the biggest design platforms today. 

Now Canva is used by millions globally, helping transform the way design is approached and executed. 

Melanie’s journey is really inspirational for women entrepreneurs across the world. Her small idea evolved into a worldwide phenomenon.

Final Thoughts

I was once advised by my coach to "DREAM BIG". 

It's a piece of advice I have taken to heart, implementing it in my own mission through GeekPack®. 

Today, I'm extending this invitation to you, to dream big, whatever that may mean for you.

You may not aspire to build a multimillion-dollar company, and that's perfectly fine…

My goal in sharing these stories of successful women in business isn't to overwhelm, but to show how even the largest companies had small beginnings and how perseverance can lead to incredible pay-offs.

Remember, we all start somewhere!

And no matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, there's an entire community ready to support and cheer for you. 

As you embark on your own journey, keep in mind the stories of Reshma, Julia, and Melanie, and understand that you, too, can defy the odds.

After all, overcoming business challenges is part of every entrepreneur's journey. 

And in the end, these obstacles serve as stepping stones to greater success.

Join our strong community of 39,000 women who are making their dreams a reality through empowering skills training.

So, who are the women entrepreneurs who inspire you? Who are the successful women in business that you admire? 

Join our FREE Facebook group, Screw The Commute and let us know!