To honor the contributions of working women and employers who support working women and their families, we celebrate National Business Women’s Week (NBWW) during the third week of October.
National Business Women’s Week provides an opportunity to call attention to women entrepreneurs, facilitate discussions on the needs of working women, share information about successful workplace policies, and raise awareness of the resources available for working women in their communities.
NBWW is a great opportunity to recognize and highlight the progress women have made as business owners and entrepreneurs. Today there are 7.2 million majority-owned, privately-held, women-owned businesses in the United States. Less than thirty years ago it was still legal to require a woman to have a male co-signer before receiving a business loan!
This week Sari Bari will highlight five women that are inspirers, motivators, movers, and shakers. These women lead with compassion, grace, and a ferocity that refuses to be ignored. Keep scrolling to see all five women we have chosen to recognize and remember to celebrate the business women leading in your life as well this week!
1. Indra Nooyi
“Remain a lifelong student. Don’t lose that curiosity.”
Until this month, Indra was the CEO of PepsiCo, however, she remains a chairperson with the company. Nooyi is known for introducing healthier options to the public and working to produce less fat, sugar, and salt in Pepsi products. She began working for PepsiCo in 1994 and through diligent hard work, innovative ideas and unbelievable vision, she earned her spot as CEO.
2. Judy May Chu
"It’s time we stop silencing victims through doubt and give them a voice in fact-finding.”
Judy Chu is the first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. Congress and she diligently serves as the U.S Representative for California’s 27th congressional district. Chu is unquestionably a leader and advocate. She is known for defending and supporting the rights of women and minorities in the United States.
3. Sheryl Sandberg
“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Sheryl Sandberg is a technology executive, activist, and author. She is the chief operating officer of Facebook and founder of Leanin.org. In June 2012, she was elected to the board of directors by the existing board members, becoming the first woman to serve on Facebook's board. If that's not impressive, she is known for championing and encouraging women to empower themselves both in the home and in the workforce. She is consistently working to change the conversation surrounding women in business.
4. Rosalind Brewer
"You can and should set your own limits and clearly articulate them. This takes courage, but is also liberating and empowering, and often earns you new respect."
Rosalind Brewer began as a research technician at Sam's Club many years ago. Through her brilliant insight and hard work, she climbed the ladder to CEO and made incredible progress for the company. Now, Brewer is breaking barriers as the very first female COO of Starbucks. Rosalind is known for advocating for minorities and believes strongly in making diversity a business priority.
5. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
"I believe in never giving up, no matter what the odds. My mantra is, 'failure is temporary, giving up is permanent."
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneer of the biotechnology industry in India and the founder of the country's leading biotechnology enterprise, Biocon. Kiran founded Biocon in 1978, working persistently to grow her business. While she has accepted many prestigious awards during her tenure, Kiran is most proud of the Padmabhushan Award, one of India's highest civilian honors that she received from the President of India.
"Here's to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them."