Let’s take a look back at Women’s History Month. We’ve highlighted inspirational women innovators on LinkedIn. Here’s the full recap, plus one more, to encourage you to be bold. Let’s reflect on awesome female innovators to close out women’s history month. They are true market disruptors. They’ve created legacies. Their courage is energizing.
Maybe you’re seeking inspiration for new product ideas. Or, maybe it’s to refresh your brand strategy. Regardless, inspiration comes from seeing how others act courageously. Here’s a quick recap! Take note of what’s inspiring to you.
Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely is founder and part owner of shapewear brand Spanx. Spanx sells undergarments, leggings, swimwear and maternity wear in over 50 countries. (Forbes). Blackstone purchased a majority of Spanx in 2021 for $1.2B. Here’s a few highlights from the article.
- A one-time door-to-door fax machine salesperson, Blakely created Spanx at first using pantyhose to wear under white slacks.
- She initially launched her new invention, which became shapewear brand Spanx, on the sales floor at various Neiman Marcus stores.
- Spanx is a celebrity favorite. Blakely is becoming a celebrity herself. She was a guest judge on ‘Shark Tank’ and had a cameo in ‘Billions.
Also, Sarah shared one of her innovation success secrets: failing forward. Hear more of Sarah’s story:
Marie Van Brittan Brown
Marie Van Brittan Brown was an American nurse and innovator. In 1966, she invented a video home security system with her husband Albert Brown, an electronics technician. (source). Some notable details from the article include:
- Marie successfully attained a patent for the innovative security system in 1969.
- Her innovation has impacted the security industry and beyond. It expanded beyond home security. Her ideas can be seen with security systems in businesses around the world.
- Video surveillance is a massive and fast-growing industry. The global market was worth $45.5 billion in 2020. It is expected to exceed $60 billion in 2023. (source)
Marie Van Brittan Brown is pictured below. You can also see a drawing from the application submitted by Marie Van Brittan Brown and her husband, Albert Brown, for a patent on Aug. 1, 1966. “Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance” was approved on Dec. 2, 1969. (U.S. Patent Office)
Lin Hsiu Hui
Have you heard of Lin Hsiu Hui? She created bubble tea! You know, the delightful beverage that combines tea, milk, tapioca bubbles. In 2019, the global bubble tea market was valued at $2B. It is expected to surpass $3B by 2027. Do you know the full story?
- Lin Hsiu Hui was a product development manager at Chun Shui Tang teahouse in Taichung, Taiwan. She decided during a work meeting to mix her sweet tapioca pudding dessert, fen yuan, with her tea. Her boss, Liu Han-Chieh, introduced drinking cold tea in the 1980s.
- Hui and Han-Chieh created the game-changing drink by combining the tapioca dessert with the tea.
- Hui never trademarked or patented bubble tea. Nonetheless, her creation gave rise to a booming industry. She focused on spreading Taiwanese tea culture to the world and developing new products. (source)
Whether you call it bubble or pearl tea or boba, this sweet treat is of another world. It has taken the world by storm.
Bridgit Mendler
Do you know Bridgit Mendler? She is an actress and singer known for roles on the Disney Channel. That’s not all! She is a space startup CEO.
- The 31-year-old is the CEO and co-founder of Northwood Space, an El Segundo, California based company. She wants to mass-produce ground stations — the antennae that communicate with space satellites. That’s quite the leap from life as a child actor and musician. You might know her from Disney roles like “Good Luck Charlie” and “Lemonade Mouth.” – source
- Northwood Space is raising serious capital. It already has $6.3 million in initial funding from major VC firms. Major players like Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Also Capital and Humba Ventures. She has recruited employees from SpaceX, Palantir, and Northrop Grumman.
- Plus, she has some amazing academic credentials. She earned her Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard Law School and PHD from MIT
Jennifer Lopez (JLO)
Everyone knows Jennifer Lopez (JLO). But, did you know she’s one of America’s wealthiest self-made women. Her estimated net worth exceeds $150 million, according to Forbes. Here’s but a few reasons for featuring her.
- Lopez has built an empire that includes endorsement deals with shoe retailer DSW and luxury design house Coach, a philanthropic arm called Limitless Labs. Limitless partners with Goldman Sachs to support Latinx entrepreneurs and her new line of beauty products JLO Beauty, which she founded this year.
- She has done this by leaning into her roots and individual talents. She is an inspirational and successful Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx, N.Y.,
- Lopez constantly explores new industries and opportunities. She doesn’t limit herself to “just do one thing.” She’s working harder to put her own mark on companies she owns or is an investor. She wants to be more than the brand’s name and face. (source)
