Top Black Women in Business Who Are Leading With Impact
Black women are the blueprint—point, blank, period.
As the first self-made Black woman to become a millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker set a precedent that is still followed by many who look like her today. She was the standard. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, walked so women like Pinky Cole, Rihanna, Jasmin Foster, and beyond could run.
Today, according to CNBC, although Black women make up less than 10 percent of the U.S. population, they are the fastest-growing entrepreneurs. Moreover, in 2024, it was reported that the number of Black-owned businesses led by women sat at 2.1 million, and Black women entrepreneurs generated $100 billion in revenue even though they do not receive the same access to resources and systems that would help them to thrive as their white counterparts.
In honor of Black women leading the charge in the business world, aspireTV highlights 11 boss ladies leading companies that continue to shine.
Melissa Butler
Shark Tank criticized her blue lipstick, but Melissa Butler continued to have the last laugh. Thanks to The Lip Bar, the Detroit native went from her kitchen to the shelves of Walmart and Target. This beauty brand unapologetically celebrates bold color, inclusivity, and clean formulas.
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Pinky Cole
Revolutionizing the vegan space one plant burger at a time, Pinky Cole’s Slutty Vegan started as a food truck. Today, the company has 14 locations in various cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, and New York.
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Jasmin Foster
In 2020, Jasmin Foster launched Be Rooted after noticing a gap in the stationery market. Five years later, the brand continues to expand and grow beyond just journals and planners with coffee mugs, puzzles, and more products that allow women of color to see themselves reflected through vibrant illustrations, affirmations that count, and more. In 2021, the company became the first Black-owned stationery brand to be sold in Target.
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Rihanna
Although the world was introduced to Robyn Fenty as the adored musician known as Rihanna, she’s managed to flip that global influence as the founder of Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, taking the beauty industry by storm through offerings that reflect all shades and lingerie for all sizes. Thanks to her success as a businesswoman, Rihanna became America’s youngest self-made billionaire in 2022, with a net worth of $1.4 billion.
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Monique Rodriguez
As the founder of Mielle Organics, Monique Rodriguez’s company started in her garage. Since then, she’s become a household name, securing a dollar deal with Proctor & Gamble through her hair care line designed specifically for textured hair.
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Jessica Matthews
Through Uncharted Power, Jessica Matthews is shedding light on renewable energy by revolutionizing the creation of technology that harnesses motion—think a soccer ball that stores power—and leading the way in sustainable infrastructure and STEM innovation.
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Angelica Ross
When she isn’t dominating the screen, Angelica Ross is a tech entrepreneur. Her company, TransTech, provides training and job opportunities for transgender people within the technology industry, redefining what access and inclusion in business look like.
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Nicole Gibbons
The founder of Clare Paint, Nicole Gibbons, envisioned taking the pain out of paint shopping by modernizing the paint industry with clean ingredients, curated colors, and an online-first approach.
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Melissa Bradley
Melissa Bradley is building wealth for Black and brown entrepreneurs through New Majority Ventures (formerly known as 1863 Ventures) in a business that uplifts others. Using the platform to help early-stage founders grow and scale with access to capital, community, and mentorship, Bradley hones in on her work as a professor, investor, and advocate for sustainable Black businesses.
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Shanna Watkins, Ashlyn Knox, & Darean Rhodes
This group of besties is helping others change their relationship with alcohol with their company, Sensori, a first-of-its-kind alcohol alternative brand centered around mood enhancement and intentional living. It’s all about helping people feel good without the hangover. The science-backed ingredients and sleek design are a testament to their mission, which is rooted in wellness.
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Beyoncè
Another force introduced to the world through her work as a talented musician, Beyoncè has never shied away from reinventing the wheel with her many businesses that span across fashion brands like Ivy Park and House of Deréon, the music industry as the founder of Parkwood Entertainment, and beauty as her Cécred hair care line just made Ulta history, selling 14 times more than the first day projections and significantly more than she did when the brand was first launched online in 2024.
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