Latest news with #femalefounders
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why More Money In Women's Hands Changes The World
Why More Money In Women's Hands Changes The World Money isn't just currency, it is power, access, and influence. Currently, far too little of it is in the hands of women. Women make up half the population yet control less than one-third of global wealth. But when women have more money, everyone benefits. Families thrive, communities grow stronger, and economies become more resilient. This isn't about financial feminism as a feel-good concept; it's about smart economics and sustainable impact. More money in the hands of women doesn't just change lives. More money in the hands of women changes the world. The Ripple Effect of Women's Wealth When women have wealth, they tend to put it to work in ways that lift others up. Studies show that women are more likely than men to reinvest their earnings into their families, their children's education, and their local communities. This kind of investment creates impact that builds stronger foundations for the next generation. Women-led businesses also operate differently. Research shows that female founders are more likely to prioritize inclusive hiring, flexible work environments, and sustainable practices. They lead with empathy and long-term vision, not just short-term profit. And in many cases, their revenue doesn't just support a lifestyle; it funds a mission. When women lead, profit and purpose often go hand in hand. Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Isn't Just Fair—It's Smart Equal participation in the economy isn't a nice-to-have as it's a global economic growth strategy. According to McKinsey, if women participated equally in the economy, global GDP could rise by as much as $28 trillion. That's a complete transformation. When you unlock the earning and investing potential of women, it isn't charity. It's the way to innovation and prosperity. But to close the gender wealth gap, we need more than encouragement. We need access. When there is more funding for women founders, it means more job creation, more diverse solutions, and stronger, more resilient businesses. Financial literacy also plays a critical role. When women understand how to manage, grow, and leverage money, they build true financial independence and become unstoppable. Barriers Still Exist Let's not pretend the playing field is level, because it's not. Venture capital firms invest less than two percent of their funding in women-led startups. That stat isn't from decades ago; it's current. Women still earn less, own fewer assets, and face more hurdles when trying to access capital, scale a business, or even get taken seriously in the room. And beyond the financial systems, there's the weight of generational conditioning. Many women have been raised to be 'nice,' not bold. They have been taught to save, not invest and to play it safe, not build wealth. These beliefs don't just shape mindset, they shape outcomes. So yes, the barriers are real, but acknowledging them is step one. The next step is breaking them down. How You Can Help Put More Money in Women's Hands Changing the system doesn't require a million-dollar check, it starts with everyday choices. You can support women-owned businesses. Hire them, buy from them, refer them. Your dollars are votes, and where you spend them matters. If you have the means, you can take it one step further. You can invest in funds or startups led by women. Angel investing, crowdfunding, and equity platforms are opening the door to more accessible, values-aligned investing. If you're not an investor, you can still move the needle. Teach financial literacy, mentor an up-and-coming entrepreneur, or use your voice to advocate for equity in your networks. Money in women's hands doesn't just get there by accident, it gets there because we push for it. The bottom line is that more money in women's hands isn't just about equity, it's about fueling a better future. When women build wealth, they uplift families, strengthen communities, and reshape economies. The data backs it, the stories prove it, and the impact is undeniable. If we want a more just, prosperous world, the path forward is clear: invest in women, fund their businesses, and help close the wealth gap.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
The rise of independent female hoteliers: from Valentina De Santis with Passalacqua, rated one of the best hotels in the world, to Esin Güral Argat with Joali in the Maldives
The hospitality industry has long been powered by women but it wasn't until the mid-1990s, when Singaporean hotelier Cristina Ong founded Como Hotels and Resorts that female founders started to attract the spotlight. Women like Rosewood's Sonia Cheng and Marie-Louise Scio from Pellicano Group have taken the helm of their family businesses and focused on new brands, openings and acquisitions. Others like Italian Irene Forte, heir to Rocco Forte Hotels, have carved their own niche by experimenting with new concepts ranging from wellness to fashion. Now a new generation of female founders are moving beyond their family legacies to create fresh hotel concepts that reflect their own personalities, while catering to the needs and desires of a new breed of travellers. Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor, Egypt. Photo: Handout Advertisement 'Today most female-run hotels are not big chain hotels. Many of these properties are independent and showcase the founder's unique personal touch. Female hoteliers today are intent on doing things their own way – it's not about following the masses,' says Zeina Aboukheir, founder of Al Moudira. Aboukheir is not a new name. The Italian-Lebanese tastemaker launched Luxor's now famed Al Moudira Hotel in 2002, before selling it in 2022 (she is still a consultant). The chic boutique hotel was designed by renowned Egyptian architect Olivier Sednaoui, but every detail was conceived by Aboukheir, including its old-world interiors featuring artworks and antiques she sourced, from handcrafted doors to hand-painted floor tiles. 'Twenty-five years ago it was already strange to have someone building a hotel in Egypt in the middle of the desert, let alone a woman,' she explains. 'Al Moudira has been successful because it has a special charm – everything is personal. It reflects my tastes and personality. It's a little bit of a mess, like me.' Zeina Aboukheir, founder of Al Moudira. Photo: Handout Italian hotelier Valentina De Santis is another ambitious hotelier who has made waves by transforming an 18th century private villa on the banks of Lake Como into Passalacqua, one of the best hotels in the world (an accolade bestowed upon the hotel by the World's 50 Best organisation, William Reed Business Media, in 2023). Hospitality runs in her veins – her grandfather bought Grand Hotel Tremezzo, another iconic property on Italy's Lake Como, in 1975. She joined the family business in 2010, but it wasn't until 2018, when they stumbled upon the property, that she was ready to build a new concept from the ground up. De Santis meticulously restored and updated the villa's historic interiors, while also engaging her good friend, renowned Milan-based designer J.J. Martin of La DoubleJ, to help her transform the hotel's pool and bar areas with her colourful and maximalist prints. Valentina De Santis, founder of Passalacqua. Photo: Handout 'It was the first time J.J. worked on a design project but we loved the idea of doing something together. Hospitality is still quite a male-dominated industry but the attention to detail, the kindness, the feminine touch a woman can bring to a property are unique. Guests are always saying our hotel has a female heart,' she says.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Tech's Next Level: Unlocking Innovation Through The Genius Of Women
The technology industry, and other job industries historically dominated by men, is standing at a pivotal moment. The outdated notion of having the perspective and skills from a broad and diverse talent pool as being a 'nice thing to do' is not only inaccurate but actively hindering progress. In an era demanding innovation and fresh perspectives, the full participation of women is no longer optional. In fact, today it's an absolute necessity for competitive survival and success for most organizations. Closeup side view of two mid 20's black women working in the tech field. Blurry coworkers in ... More background, all released. Why Does Tech Need More Women? Beyond ethical considerations, there's a compelling economic argument for increasing women's participation in tech. A BCG report showed that for every dollar of funding, female-founded startups generated 78 cents in revenue, while male-founded startups generated just 31 cents. Additionally, having diverse teams leads to more innovative and well-rounded products. What's the Current Landscape Today? While progress has been made, women remain underrepresented in tech. A recent report shows that only 2% of funding goes to women-led ventures, a statistic that Nomiki Petrolla, found "embarrassing" when she first learned about it. Petrolla is the founder of Theanna, a platform dedicated for women building tech startups. When she first began her career she didn't notice how often the individuals she was helping launch a new tech company were men. But when she started to engage with more women, she noticed some glaring disparities. 'The women were often starting from scratch in terms of funding, whereas the men were coming from senior executive positions that often provided greater access to networks, funding and guidance.' Common challenges Petrolla called out as present for many of the women she's partnered with in their start up ventures include: What's the Good News? Even with those stark challenges, there is a lot to be excited about. There have been increases in funding women-led startups. This has been assisted by the creation of incubators for women founders, more females building careers in tech and becoming founders themselves, as well as platforms, such as the one created by Petrolla. Petrolla believes that this trend upward will continue. She calls out the following opportunities arising that call to the importance of more women finding success in tech include: How Can Others Effectively Support Women in Tech 'I saw, firsthand, the benefits that many of the male founders I've worked with have benefited from building careers in organizations that have supported their growth and development,' Petrolla shares. She recommends the following to those in critical positions of impact within tech organizations. For People Leaders: For Recruiting and HR: To unlock the full potential of the tech industry and ensure its continued success, companies must prioritize women. As Nomiki Petrolla aptly puts it, " I just want to see access for everyone so they each have the opportunity to prove if they can do it or not." By embracing inclusive practices, investing in women-led initiatives and fostering a culture of authenticity, we can create a tech landscape that truly reflects the diverse world we live in.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle's best friends pose up a storm at intimate Montecito dinner for female founders - but Duchess of Sussex is nowhere to be seen
Meghan Markle's besties posed up a storm at a luxury dinner for female founders - but the Duchess of Sussex was nowhere to be seen. Abigail Spencer and Delfina Blaquier - both of whom appeared on their longtime friend's Netflix series With Love, Meghan - were among the 'Montecito Girls' in attendance at the intimate gathering hosted by shoe designer Jamie Haller. The influencers shared a series of snaps and photos from the stunning event commemorating the opening of the Californian brand's first store. Flowers, personalised name-cards and curated menus all channeled a very As Ever aesthetic - but Meghan herself didn't appear to be present, possibly busy with the launch of her upcoming site restock. Food from trendy Italian restaurant Ospi coated the tales, including pizzas, pastas and al fresco antipasti perfect for the summer evening, while local vineyard Coquelicot Wines provided drinks. Complementing the porch set-up, candles adorned the setting while guests - which included fashion company owners from the area, such as Clare Vivier, Janessa Leoné, Emily Current and Meritt Elliott - enjoyed conversing. Social media posts from the night also featured a speech made by Jamie, as supporters gushed of their pride of her entrepreneurial drive. Meghan's former Suits co-star Abigail, 43, has been pals with the Duchess after they first met in 2007 at an audition; but they became closer once they became co-stars on the legal drama. The influencers shared a series of snaps and photos from the stunning event commemorating the opening of the Californian brand's first store The Duchess played Rachel Zane - a paralegal who later became an attorney - in the series and Abigail was cast as lawyer Dana Scott. Elsewhere Delfina Figueras, 44, bonded with Meghan as she is the socialite wife of Harry's polo-playing chum Nacho Figueras. Both she and Delfina took a myriad of selfies and videos from the event, boasting of a 'good start to a good night'. While Abigail sported a double denim ensemble, and accentuated her raven tresses with a bold red lip, Delfina contrasted her blonde locks with a black monochrome look. The duo huddled up close in snaps from the day - but Meghan may have likely been absent as she's busy following her release date for her new set of As Ever products, which is just days away. The Duchess took to Instagram on Monday evening to tease the 'delicious surprises' that will be in store during the second launch of her lifestyle brand. And she revealed that the products - which will also include previous 'favourites' - will be back even sooner than previously thought, with the restock going live on Friday, June 30 at 8am. She wrote on her As Ever Instagram account: 'Oh yes, honey…sweet things await. Mark your calendars for June 20 at 8 a.m. PT - we're bringing back your favorites, plus some delicious surprises you won't want to miss!' She added a picture of a stock of pancakes, topped with sweet raspberries and a generous drizzle of honey. As implied by the caption, Meghan's honey will be set to make a return - and it's likely her famous jam will also be up for grabs. In a newsletter to fans, she added: 'First off, a sincere thank you for making the debut of As ever absolutely extraordinary. We had a feeling there would be excitement, but to see everything sell out in less than an hour was an amazing surprise. 'We are pleased to share that on June 20th, we're going live with the products you love – plus, some new delicious surprises.' And posting on her personal Instagram account, she said 'so much love has gone into this'. After reports she had decided to 'pause' restocking the line, Meghan earlier this month revealed that As Ever would indeed be making a return. Alongside a snapshot of bowls of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries resting on a kitchen countertop, she wrote: 'To all who've been wondering and waiting, thank you! 'Your favorites are returning, plus a few NEW things we can't wait to show you. Coming this month... get excited!' The original As Ever range went on sale in March and products sold out within half an hour of going live. Meghan's first line of products included raspberry spread, honey, herbal tea and ready made crepe mix - all of which received a less than stellar review by Daily Mail's FEMAIL team. The shock announcement of an initial restock came shortly after she released a bonus episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder where Meghan told of the difficulties of building her firm and 'tears' she has shed behind the scenes to Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles. She said of the April launch of As Ever goods including jam that a 'scarcity mentality at the beginning might be a hook for people,' comparing it to 'a sneaker drop'. But Meghan feared it might be 'annoying' for customers, adding: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.' The Duchess said: 'So for me at the moment, with As Ever, it was great. We planned for a year we get and then everything sells out in 45 minutes. 'Yes, amazing, great news. Then what do you do? And then you say 'Ok, we planned as best as we could. Are we going to replenish and sell out again in an hour? Or is that annoying as a customer? 'I'm looking at it saying "Just pause. That happened. Let's wait until we are completely stable and we have everything we need."' Just a few weeks prior, the mother-of two had hinted that she might never restock her jam in an interview with a US business magazine which said she was planning to 'step back to assess' her brand. In the interview - given to coincide with the final episode of Confessions of a Female Founder - the Fast Company said Meghan wanted to 'step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.' Her previous store sold out in 45 minutes and contained homely items as well as her long-awaited pots of jam. Addressing her first online shop, Meghan said Netflix agreed that rather than market her products under their brand, it would make sense for her to have her own store. Meghan also reportedly plans to add hotels and restaurants to her As Ever lifestyle brand. The Duchess is said to be trademarking her brand As Ever for 'hospitality services', The Sun first reported. This will allegedly include places to stay, as well as temporary lodgings and 'provision of food and drink', the newspaper revealed last week. Meghan could dish up a selection of her own edible creations, incorporating recipes she featured on her recent Netflix eight-part cooking show With Love, Meghan. Brand experts have claimed hotels and restaurants fit in nicely with the Duchess' business brand. Her lifestyle brand's website states: 'As Ever is more than a brand - it's a love language. 'Created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, As Ever welcomes you to a collection of products, each inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining and hostessing.' Meghan's representatives previously declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women In The World 2025
It's never been a better time for women entrepreneurs – at least by the numbers. There are now an estimated 658 million female founders and company owners worldwide, compared to 772 million men, per the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Nearly two-thirds are early stage entrepreneurs, compared to less than half of their male counterparts. 'Women's entrepreneurship is the number one policy solution to things like health deficits and education deficits,' says Amanda Elam, who authored GEM's latest Women's Entrepreneurship Report. 'The types of businesses women start are [also in locations that are] fun to live in. And it turns out companies like to build their operations in places like that. So in international development, there's been this awakening.' As a nod to the triumphs and challenges for this cohort, for the first time ever, Forbes has compiled a standalone global ranking of the world's 50 richest self-made women. These ceiling breakers—who have made their fortunes in everything from collagen to coal—hail from 13 nations and four continents (there are currently none from Africa or South America). Altogether they are worth $276 billion, or $5.5 billion on average. That's $10 billion less than what the top 50 were worth at their peak in 2021, but $158 million higher than in 2017 – the first year Forbes tracked that many self-made women. The richest self-made woman in the world is Swiss shipping magnate Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, with a net worth of $38.8 billion. She and her husband Gianluigi Aponte started and co-own the Mediterranean Shipping Company, now the world's largest shipping line, with over 136,000 employees, 900 vessels and 675 offices. Rafaela started the Mediterranean Shipping Company with a $200,000 loan, which the couple used to finance their first ship and eventually expanded to a fleet of 17 in nine years. At 80, she's still in charge of designing the interiors and decorations of ships and sits on the board of the MSC foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. At a distant number two is America's Diane Hendricks, (estimated net worth: $22.3 billion) cofounder of ABC Supply, one of the biggest distributors of roofing, siding and more. She is one of 18 Americans in the top 50, including such high profile women as Oprah Winfrey and Sheryl Sandberg. Admission to this elite, 50-member club is $2.1 billion, meaning high profile executives and entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Gwynn Shotwell, Spanx's Sara Blakely, Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift simply aren't rich enough—for now. China, including Hong Kong, also has 18 citizens on the list, the richest of whom is Zhong Huijuan. Based in China's Jiangsu province and reportedly a former chemistry teacher, Zhong started Hansoh Pharmaceuticals in 1995 and got her big break four years later with Gainuo, a first-line drug for advanced lung cancer. Traded in Hong Kong, and boasting $1.7 billion in annual revenue, Hansoh specializes in treatments for oncology, anti-infections and autoimmune diseases. China has long been a leader in terms of women entrepreneurs. 'In the Chinese tradition, women are accustomed to wielding significant power and influence,' Ming-Jer Chen, a professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on East-West businesses, wrote in a 2020 article, which also noted that Chinese word for 'wife' is pronounced the same as the word for equal, 'qi.' Nearly half the list – 24 women – hail from Asia-Pacific, followed by North America with 20 and Europe with six. Aussie Melanie Perkins, who cofounded design software firm Canva in 2013, is the youngest of the bunch, at age 38. Next youngest is Russia's Tatyana Kim (49), a former English teacher who went on to found her nation's largest online retailer, Wildberries. These women operate in 14 industries but their most common route to wealth has been technology, with 14 deriving their fortunes from that sector. The richest among this group is Zhou Qunfei (estimated net worth: $10 billion), who chairs Hunan-based Lens Technology, a maker of touch screens whose customers include Apple, Samsung and Tesla. A former migrant factory worker, she founded the precursor to the company in 1993 and has grown the business to more than 136,000 employees and $9.5 billion in annual sales. The next most common industry, with just five, is retail, and includes two cofounders of China's fast fashion juggernaut Shein. While more women are moving into entrepreneurship than ever before, there is still a vast gap between men and women in terms of their level of success, at least as measured by their personal net worths. The world's 50 richest self-made men are worth $3.8 trillion, 14 times as much as the 50 wealthiest females. Altogether there are 1,920 men across the globe who have built billion-dollar fortunes, more than 18 times as many as women. The planet's self-made billionaires are worth a collective $11.2 trillion. Men—led by the likes of Elon Musk, Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg—hold $10.8 trillion of that wealth, or 96%, leaving the most successful women around the globe with just 4% of the pie. Still there is plenty of reason for optimism, starting with the fact that self-made women now make up 3.5% of the entire billionaire set, a small percentage but about 50% higher than their share back in 2017. To compile net worths, Forbes valued individual assets including stakes in public companies using stock prices from June 13, 2025. We valued private companies by consulting with outside experts and conservatively comparing them with public companies. To be eligible for the list, women have to have substantially made their own fortunes. While none inherited their wealth, some climbed farther and overcame more obstacles to get into the ranks.
