Businesswomen, Executives, Entrepreneurs

Sarah Breedlove Walker, known as Madam C. J. Walker, was the first African American woman millionaire in America, known not only for her hair straightening treatment and her salon system which helped other African Americans to succeed, but also her work to end lynching and gain women's rights.

Despite discrimination, in spite of glass ceilings, some women have achieved success in the world of business.

A biography of Elizabeth Arden, cosmetics business executive, who pioneered many advertising and marketing techniques.

Coco Chanel's designs helped define the 1920s and the 1950s. A short biography of Chanel plus links to many Net resources for even more information and photographs.

Read about Mary Parker Follett, a pioneer theorist on management theory. Her work shows the direction of much of 20th century management thinking.

Quotes by Mary Parker Follett - part of an extensive collection of quotations by notable women.

Helena Rubinstein founded and ran a worldwide cosmetics empire.

Biography of A'Lelia Walker, daughter of Madam C. J. Walker, and figure of the Harlem Renaissance.

Madam C. J. Walker biography - profile of Madam C. J. Walker, African American inventor and business executive whose hair care products were directed at black women.

Profile of Maggie Lena Walker, first woman bank president,and African American business woman of Richmond, Virginia.

Pictures of Maggie Lena Walker, African American business executive and bank president.

The Radio Hall of Fame honors radio show "Ma Perkins" starring Virginia Payne, a dramatic show that ran from 1933 to 1960, depicting a mother and business owner in a small town.

Mary Katherine Goddard received the commission to print the American Delcaration of Independence by the Continental Congress because of her reputation running a printing shop. This video clip explains how her business success was limited by women's legal position in colonial America.

A brief article and links to original source materials in the collection of the library at the Harvard Business School.

Find a series of video presentations from a Radcliffe conference on 250 years of women in American business, including thoughts on why it's taken so long to study the history of women in entrepreneurship.