The people behind the brands that have been so ingrained in popular consciousness can be just as formidable as the companies they founded. From media, retail, politics, literature, fashion, and technology, women have been making waves and are shattering glass ceiling everywhere.
Here are some women who have been able to catapult brands into the mainstream consciousness:
Anna Wintour
One of the most formidable names in fashion, Anna Wintour has been the editor-in-chief of Vogue US since 1988. Under her helm, she took the magazine to the top of the fashion world in the 90′s with her uncanny fashion sense and renegade vision. To this day, she is regarded as one of the most influential people in fashion, setting the trends and styles of every season by anointing up-and-coming designers worthy of her approval.
Coco Chanel
She is one of 20th-century’s most iconic fashion designers, being the woman behind the eponymous Chanel brand. A pioneer in women’s fashion, her classic designs and silhouettes have made Chanel one of the leading fashion luxury brands in the entire world. Her legacy has outlived her as she was the only fashion designer to be included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Important People of the Century.
Oprah Winfrey
From being a TV host in the mid-80′s, Oprah has since then transformed the television landscape and made daytime talk shows a part of the viewing public’s daily lives. A constant on Most Influential and Most Powerful lists during the last decade, Oprah surely has clout not only in the land of celebrities but also when it comes to social issues and concerns. Her support of President Barack Obama is considered by some as a significant factor in his victory during the last election. She is set to retire from hosting her television show after a successful 25-year run. She is the CEO of her own media empire which includes a magazine, her newly-launched cable channel OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network) and several syndicated television and radio shows.
Jane Iredale
Mineral makeup has been seaing a boost in the past few years, and we women have Jan Iredale to thank. Owner of Jane Iredale Cosmetics, her makeup line was the first to carry a complete variety of mineral makeup products. She used to work in film, theatre and television, and her connections led her to pursue a career in production design and makeup. Working with the best makeup artists and cosmetic surgeons from the industry, she has been able to launch a line of high-quality mineral makeup and skin care products geared towards women who want a better alternative to their regular makeup brands.
J.K. Rowling
Joanne Rowling is the woman behind the highly-succesful Harry Potter books which has turned into an international franchise of box-office movies and merchandise. She used the pen name J.K. to conceal her identity as a woman as publishers thought that her target market might not want to read a fantasy book written by a woman.