The world of business is full of superstars and household names, but most are not inspirational.
These women certainly are.
Oprah Winfrey: her self-titled talk-show was one of the highest rated in history. Since founding her own multimedia production company in 1986, Harpo Productions,she's still running the show and encouraging other women to do so in "O, The Oprah magazine". Born into poverty and raised by a single mother, Winfrey is now a billionaire.
Anita Roddick: Looking to support her two daughters, this British businesswoman founded one of the first companies to make environmentally-ethical cosmetics cool — The company was bought by L'Oreal in 2006, 30 years after its founding, for around $1 billion, and has since become the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world. Roddick passed away in 2007.
Meg Whitman: Recently hired as CEO of Hewlett Packard, she made her name bringing Ebay from $4 million to $8 billion — with a b — in annual revenue during her tenure. She also made a run for governor of California.
These women, among others, have become role models for women aiming to reach the pinnacle of success.
Who do you admire?
Women and Business - A CNBC Special Report