10 Women Small Business CEOs Making Waves
“Where there is a woman, there is magic.” – Ntozake Shange
As we come together to commemorate International Women’s Day, these words ring true, capturing the essence of the remarkable women who continue to inspire and uplift their communities. Today, we celebrate not only their achievements but also the indelible impact they have made on the community.
Let’s shine a spotlight on 10 extraordinary women small business CEOs, each wielding their unique brand of magic to transform lives and communities.
Karen R. Hilton, T.A.P. Executive Coaching
Karen R. Hilton is a seasoned business leader, certified professional coach, speaker, and consultant with a wealth of experience under her belt.
For over three decades, T.A.P. Executive Coaching has been empowering organizations and leaders alike, offering a plethora of options, insights, and tools essential for cultivating transformative leadership practices, fostering engaging development experiences, and adopting mission-focused, vision-driven approaches to leadership.
Attendees of Karen’s events rave about her authenticity, fun-loving spirit, and engaging demeanor, which fosters connection, learning, and practical application.
Piersten Gaines, Pressed Roots
While Piersten Gaines was pursuing her studies at Harvard Business School, she found herself pondering the concept of blowout bars like Drybar, which offered a consistent level of service across different locations. It was during this time that she conceived the idea for a chain of blowout bars specifically tailored for textured hair.
Pressed Roots is a unique blowout bar dedicated to prioritizing the health of your hair, delivering efficient service within 1-2 hours, and offering luxurious experiences tailored for highly textured hair. With $3.1 million in funding, as first reported by Fortune, Pressed Roots has garnered support from notable investors including tennis star Naomi Osaka, former HP CEO Meg Whitman, and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. It’s a venture that combines innovation with a celebration of diverse hair types.
Katie Doherty & Enhao Li, Founded Outdoors
Katie Doherty was running a startup incubator in San Francisco while at that time, Enhao Li was building an app designed to match entrepreneurial women and people of color with mentors. They got together and started thinking about how they could provide more support for women entrepreneurs – then they co-founded Founded Outdoors.
Founded Outdoors offers a space to connect with other outdoor business owners as well as a 3-month program designed for new and aspiring entrepreneurs looking for resources and guidance to turn early-stage ideas into viable businesses. Similar to taking up a new outdoor activity, it’s easier to start a company and stick with it when you have experienced mentors to show you the way, skills for navigating different scenarios, and a community for motivation. That’s where Founded Outdoors comes in.
Dilia Coppedge, The Nanny Loft®
Dilia Coppedge is a seasoned childcare pro who’s honed her skills through nanny work and volunteering at a camp for abandoned, abused and neglected kids. This experience has deepened her understanding of the profound influence caregivers can wield over an entire family.
Now, onto The Nanny Loft®! It’s not just any agency—it’s a registered 501c3 Nanny Referral Agency with a grand mission: to offer personalized, top-notch childcare for all families. Dilia’s vision is at the heart of The Nanny Loft’s® meticulous candidate selection process, establishing it as the go-to nanny referral agency for Lehigh County communities.
Morgan Kelly, Scarlett Collection
After years in the event planning industry (Scarlett Events), Morgan Kelley wanted to give her clients the gift of their Pinterest-perfect party visions, without the DIY hassle.
Scarlett Collection’s focus has always been on planning events for women who love chic modern elegance and would rather live in the moment instead of stressing about details. When you #PartyWithScarlett, you party for a cause. Proceeds from each Box bought support Bright Blessings, an organization that brings joy, positive recognition, and birthday parties to homeless and impoverished children whose special day may otherwise go unnoticed.
Deborah Davis, Glover and Wyre
Deborah Davis, a Tennis Pro, and a Golf Pro, is also the chief artisan and leather crafter who specializes in exotic goods, primarily focused on the exquisite material of American alligator, showcasing the harmonious fusion of nature’s magnificence and her artistry.
Glover and Wyre, a custom leather studio based in Covington, GA, specializes in bespoke leather goods to complement authentic lifestyles as well as one-of-a-kind pieces to build your legacy. A portion of Glover and Wyre’s annual sales is donated to a non-profit organization called Inspiring Greatness; a Golf program focused on teaching young girls how to use STEM with golf.
Nyamekye Nti,Black Sisters in STEM
Diana “Nyamekye” Wilson is a highly successful social entrepreneur, former Googler, activist, and global speaker.
Black Sisters in STEM (Black SiS) is on a mission to build the largest talent pipeline of Black college women in STEM while preparing them with cultural competency, technical skillset, and inclusive leadership skills to meet the demands of the emergent workforce. Powered by AI, their platform improves the hireability of Black women through live projects, mentorship, and learning communities at scale. Under Nyamekye’s leadership, Black SiS built an ecosystem composed of ~7k women in 24 countries with representation from 12 African countries.
Sheila Pande, Tandem Community
Sheila Pande is an experienced digital healthcare founder and entrepreneur with an academic background in public health, anthropology, and maternal and children’s mental health.
Tandem Community is a digital health platform building community and culturally curated solutions for postpartum depression and mental wellness for women of color. Sheila’s passions lie in listening to people, their stories, and what makes their lives unique; and then building solutions that work for diverse lifestyles, communities, and businesses. She is dedicated to applying public health skills and analyses to develop and refine healthcare strategies for culturally diverse markets.
Jakita O. Thomas, Ph. D., Pharaoh’s Conclave (PCX)
Jakita O. Thomas, an educator who helps young people marry passion to purpose, a grant writing coach, and an entrepreneur, was awarded $2M in grant funding, bootstrapped three successful companies, and received a commendation from President Barack Obama for her grant-supported research.
Pharaoh’s Conclave (PCV) prepares youth for eSports careers by working with a diverse group of community organizations, engaging and preparing youth for careers and opportunities related to eSports, and using the power and reach of eSports to open new opportunities for partners, sponsors, and brands.
April Wiser, Foto Femme United
April Wiser is a creative based in Paris with knowledge and professional experience in digital, marketing, social media strategy, photography, marketing, project management, and content creation.
Foto Femme United is a startup established and based in Paris, France which fosters the diversity, equity, and inclusion of female and non-binary photographers worldwide. They believe that empowering women and nonbinary photographers through equity is vital to achieving equality not only in the photo industry but in the world by raising unheard voices through the one universal language they have: photography.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As we wrap up, let’s remember that International Women’s Day isn’t just a day on the calendar; it’s a reminder of the ongoing journey toward gender equality. For Finance Savvy CEO®s, it’s an opportunity to amplify your voices, advocate for change, and continue paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse financial landscape.
Happy Women’s Day!
One of the things that we love about the Finance Savvy CEO® community is how our members support and show up for one another. If you are looking for a community with like-minded business owners and you focus on becoming a Finance Savvy CEO®, we have a free membership that you might want to check out!
