Top 10 Self Made Women

By the late ‘80s, Miami had provided a variety of lifestyles for young women. However, this future Facebook COO focused less on partying and more on education. Maybe it was the lessons learned from her parents or perhaps just a strong sense of self, but Sheryl Sandberg developed her skills at Harvard before working on foreign debt policies in the Clinton administration. And just as Silicon Valley was becoming the center of 21st century commerce, Sandberg joined Google as an advertising executive. This self-made womansoon became the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and a few years later was the first ever female elected to the Facebook Board of Directors in 2012.

Perhaps many of you aren’t familiar with this name, but her story represents how education and vision can change everything. Today, paper mogul Zhang Yin boasts a 4.4 billion net worth, making her one of the wealthiest women of China, but it all began in the mid-80s as she invested her modest savings to start up a Hong Kong trading business. The product? Paper. That’s right. Zhang Yin was literally “making paper” en route to becoming a defining figure of the Chinese-American trade industry as the Founder and Director of Nine Dragons Paper Holdings.

Born and raised in the American Midwest, this woman got down to business shortly after receiving a Computer Science Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The result was Epic Systems - yes, EPIC Systems - long before the word “epic” entered the lexicon of Internet lingo. This was back in 1979, and Judy Faulkner’s healthcare software couldn’t have come at a better time. Visionary and providing services that impacted healthcare management, Faulkner combined technology and humanity to effectively change the game.

With a family history dating back to the Qing dynasty, this poverty-stricken woman transformed her life through perseverance and a willingness to adapt. Yet another success story from the ‘80s, Chen Lihua began selling furniture to Hong Kong residents. Through it all, she managed to scrap together enough coin to venture into the real estate business, creating the Fuwah International Group. By recognizing the immense perks of commercial property, Chen set in motion a career that would make her a billionaire six times over.

If our #7 entry comes from the old school, this woman represents the new. As the founder of SOHO China, the Cambridge-educated Zhang Xin has provided personality and spunk to the international real estate industry. But it’s her blue-collar beginnings in Hong Kong that paved the way for the future. When Zhang Xin saved enough money to attend college, she was gone baby, gone. She would become one of the most celebrated supporters of Chinese architecture and now works with other business magnates to ensure that young minds across the globe have the tools to develop their skills.

In the late ‘90s, this former stand-up comedian realized that the pantyhose industry had been operating under the same set of principles for some time and could use a change. Her research, combined with her $5000 life savings, led to the creation of SPANX. Blakely understood how to connect with the modern woman. After reaching out to the ultimate female business entrepreneur, Oprah Winfrey, the company went into pantyhose beast mode. A graduate of Florida State University, her hustle and her inquisitive mind opened new frontiers in undergarments for women.

#4: J. K. Rowling

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We can’t fault anyone for immediately connecting this woman’s name with big money and magical wizardry. Still, the fact remains that her iconic “Harry Potter” series was born out of depression and desperation. Rejected by Oxford, separated from her husband and raising a child with little money, Joanne Rowling committed herself to putting on paper the fantastic story she was creating in her mind. It became an incredibly popular book series that spawned one of the most successful film adaptations of all time. Her perseverance and commitment to one singular vision made J.K. Rowling the UK’s most successful living author.

#3: Meg Whitman

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Everybody seems to believe that Hillary Clinton is the most logical woman to become the first female president of the United States, but here’s a self-made billionaire you should be watching out for. From Harvard Business School to Walt Disney to DreamWorks, Meg Whitman’s brilliant strategic planning has influenced the world of commerce like no other. She joined eBay during their early days of the late ‘90s, and within 10 years, well, the company didn’t exactly dissipate. Today, she’s the CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, however she’s pretty much the boss wherever she goes. All day, every day.

At only five years of age, this Chinese woman lost her mother, and lived with her blind father. Zhou Qunfei later dropped out of school to work in the factories. But while others went through the typical motions of a daily routine, Zhou Qunfei educated herself in the process. She eventually set up her own shop called Lens Technology, making touch screens. And with the advent of mobile devices and the rise of social media, this mogul integrated her company with the daily lives of consumers. Tap Tap Tap. That’s the sound of China’s wealthiest woman.

It only makes sense to acknowledge the last name of this woman, but is it really necessary? OPRAH. You know the name, you know the brand. But what you may not realize is that she was born into southern American poverty and suffered even more while growing up in Milwaukee. With that being said, Oprah Winfrey’s extreme work ethic and focus led to her becoming the youngest and first black female news anchor at Nashville’s WTVF – then WLAC-TV. In the early ‘80s, Oprah moved to Chi-town, and the city immediately recognized that she was about to SET IT OFF. And that she did. Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite self-made woman? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.