Top 25 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in 2025

The entrepreneurial world in 2025 is brimming with groundbreaking ideas and transformative leaders, with women at the forefront of driving change across industries. These female entrepreneurs are not only challenging conventional norms but also paving the way for innovation and progress. In this article, we recognize 25 influential women who are shaping the future with their visionary leadership and bold initiatives. From technology to sustainability, their efforts continue to inspire and empower a new generation of entrepreneurs globally.

• Sophie Milliken
  

Sophie Milliken MBE is a British entrepreneur, author, and speaker known for her impactful work in recruitment and employability. She founded and serves as the CEO of Moja Group, a company that enhances the personal profiles of entrepreneurs and executives, assisting them in becoming recognized authorities in their respective fields. With over seventeen years of experience in the graduate recruitment industry, Milliken previously led SRS Recruitment and Employability Experts, which became the UK's largest provider of assessment center simulations.

Milliken has collaborated with major employers like M&S and JP Morgan to design effective graduate recruitment campaigns. In 2023, Milliken was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours. A passionate advocate for women's empowerment, she chairs Smart Works Newcastle, a charity that supports unemployed women with interview clothing and coaching.

Milliken is also an accomplished author, with her best-selling books From Learner to Earner and The Ambition Accelerator providing insights for aspiring professionals.

• Sofia Appelgren
  

Sofia Appelgren is a Swedish social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Mitt Liv, an organization promoting diversity and inclusion in the labor market. Established in 2008, Mitt Liv aims to create an inclusive society by providing support and mentoring for individuals from immigrant backgrounds. With a background in media, communications, and sociology, Appelgren has been named Sweden's best social entrepreneur by Ben & Jerry's and being selected as one of the 125 most influential women in Sweden’s business landscape. Additionally, she is a fellow of Ashoka, a global network for social entrepreneurs. Appelgren runs Sweden’s largest mentoring program, which connects academics with foreign backgrounds to job opportunities, improving their chances of employment.

• Gisele Castro
  

Gisele Castro is an American advocate and transformational leader in juvenile justice. She is the Executive Director of exalt, a nonprofit organization empowering court-involved youth through education and employment opportunities. With over two decades of experience in the criminal justice system, Castro is known for reshaping the lives of young people.

Castro holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on non-profit management from Pace University and has conducted research at Oxford University on juvenile justice systems. She is also pursuing a Doctorate in Education in leadership and innovation at NYU Steinhardt.

Castro has received numerous accolades, including the 2023 Community Impact Award from SparkYouth NYC and recognition as one of New York's "Responsible 100" by City and State Magazine.

• Neeti Mehta Shukla
  

Neeti Mehta Shukla is an Indian-American entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of Automation Anywhere, a leading robotic process automation (RPA) company. Under her leadership, the company has transformed how businesses operate by automating repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and creative work. Shukla holds a degree in business and entrepreneurship from Bond University in Australia.

As the Chief Social Impact Officer, Shukla is making technology accessible to underserved communities. She founded the Social Impact Office at Automation Anywhere to implement programs that reskill individuals and promote inclusivity in the tech industry. Her initiatives aim to empower vulnerable populations, including women and working mothers, by providing them with the skills needed for success in a digital economy.

Shukla has received several awards, including the WEDO Technology Pioneer Award at the United Nations Headquarters in 2022 and the Robert Stable Medal for outstanding alumni from Bond University in 2023. She is an advocate for ethical AI practices and believes in leveraging technology to create positive societal change.

• Emily Weiss
  

Emily Weiss is an American entrepreneur, best known as the founder and former CEO of Glossier, a beauty brand that has revolutionized the industry with its direct-to-consumer approach. Born on March 22, 1985, in Wilton, Connecticut, Weiss graduated from New York University in 2007 with a degree in studio art. Her career began in fashion as an assistant at W magazine and later at Vogue. In 2010, she launched Into the Gloss, a beauty blog that gained popularity for its candid interviews and insights into beauty routines. The success of the blog led to the creation of Glossier in 2014, which debuted with four minimalist skincare products. Under Weiss's leadership, Glossier grew rapidly, achieving a valuation of over $1 billion and becoming a cultural phenomenon known for its inclusive marketing and community-driven approach. She has received numerous accolades, including being named in Forbes' 30 Under 30 and Time's "Next 100."

• Payal Kadakia
  

Payal Kadakia is an entrepreneur, dancer, and the founder of ClassPass, a fitness membership platform providing access to gyms and fitness studios. She was born on February 2, 1983, in New Jersey to Indian immigrant parents. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in Operations Research and Economics.

In 2011, after working as a consultant at Bain & Company and in digital strategy at Warner Music Group, Kadakia launched ClassPass. The idea stemmed from her difficulty finding a ballet class after work, leading her to create a solution that connected fitness enthusiasts with studios. ClassPass quickly gained popularity, achieving a valuation of over $1 billion by 2020 and facilitating millions of workouts across thousands of partner studios worldwide.

Kadakia is also the Artistic Director of The Sa Dance Company, which she founded to elevate Indian dance in mainstream media. She is recognized on Fortune's 40 Under 40 list. Kadakia is also the author of the book LifePass: Drop Your Limits Rise to Your Potential.

• Mariam Naficy
  

Mariam Naficy is an American entrepreneur known for her contributions to e-commerce and creative communities. She is the co-founder and board chairman of Tonic.xyz, a fine art NFT gallery that focuses on generative art collections. In 1998, Naficy co-founded Eve.com, one of the first online cosmetics retailers, which she later sold for $110 million to Idealab.

In 2008, she founded Minted, an online marketplace that crowdsources design for stationery and other creative products. Minted has grown significantly under her leadership, raising over $208 million in funding and employing hundreds of people while fostering a community of independent artists.

Naficy holds degrees from Williams College and Stanford Graduate School of Business. She has served on the boards of several organizations, including Medium and Victoria's Secret, and is a trustee at Williams College. Her work has earned her recognition as a leader in the creator economy, advocating for diversity and innovation in the business landscape.

• Michelle Zatlyn
  

Michelle Zatlyn is a Canadian entrepreneur. She is the co-founder, President, and COO of Cloudflare, an internet security and performance company. Zatlyn was born and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from McGill University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

In 2009, Zatlyn co-founded Cloudflare with Matthew Prince and Lee Holloway. Under her leadership, the company has become a significant player in cybersecurity, protecting roughly 20% of global internet traffic and serving over 300 Fortune 1,000 companies. in 2019, Cloudflare became a publicly traded company.

Zatlyn is also a board member at Atlassian and an active participant in the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders Foundation. She was featured on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and Forbes' list of self-made women.

• Karime German
  

Karime German is a Mexican entrepreneur and co-founder of Grin Scooters, a company offering a dockless electric scooter-sharing service across Latin America. Grin Scooters was founded in 2018 by Karime German, Bryan Zambrano, Jonathan Lewy, and Sergio Romo, and operates by allowing users to locate, unlock, and pay for scooter rides via a mobile application. The company has secured $72.7 million in funding to date.

Before her work with Grin Scooters, German was the co-founder and head of people and culture at Grow Mobility, a mobility platform serving the Latin American market. She also co-founded Mureni, a startup that facilitates the buying and selling of second-hand luxury goods in Mexico.

• Lisa Skeete Tatum
  

Lisa Skeete Tatum is an American entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Landit, a personalized career pathing platform enhancing the success of women and diverse groups in the workplace. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey, developing an interest in maths and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University.

Tatum began her career at Procter & Gamble and later pursued an MBA at Harvard Business School. After working as a General Partner at Cardinal Partners, a venture capital firm, Tatum recognized the challenges many women face in navigating their careers, inspiring her to create Landit in 2015. Landit offers tailored resources and coaching to help individuals identify opportunities, build personal brands, and achieve their career goals. The platform’s innovative "one-size-fits-one" approach has made it a trusted partner for numerous Fortune 500 companies. Lisa also serves on several boards and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.