10 women entrepreneurs to inspire you

Focus, strength, faith and fuck you: for Lénia Luz, creator of the Pink Entrepreneurship website, these are prerequisites for the woman who wants to start her own business. Are the four pillars to understand that it will not be easy, but that without focus, without determination, without your aligned spirituality and without the boldness to give a fuck to the difficulties and opinions of others, you will not be able to cope with the daily undertaking? , explains the entrepreneur.

Lenia's advice reflects the experiences of those who have faced the universe of entrepreneurship. After all, having a business of your own is far from working less; It takes a lot of dedication and to get the ideas off the paper and make it happen. Do you have to have the breath to be successful? and women show that they have plenty to spare.

A study by Serasa Experian revealed that more than five million Brazilian women are entrepreneurs. Women are ahead of 43% of the country's business, most of them (98.5%) acting as MEI or partners of micro and small businesses. However, in large corporations the scenario is different: only 0.2% of female entrepreneurs in Brazil are partners of large companies.

The corporate world is still a very hostile environment for women. Entrepreneurship is like a second way, a viable option to stay active, do what you like, be closer to your family (not working less but flexibly) and, above all, be able to create something that can transform life of people ?, says Ana Fontes, creator of the Women Entrepreneur Network.

Bending over trails that can be quite complicated, women conquer their space. For many, entrepreneurship is a form of empowerment. After all, the journey can contribute to self-knowledge, breaking paradigms, fighting against the still predominantly chauvinist models of work, and achieving independence and freedom.

Read also: 14 easy deals to undertake individually

“I think that first of all the woman needs to have courage, because she will have to give up several things that have been imposed on her as certain. You have to believe it. Believe that it will be able to solve things that seem impossible ?, reflects Julinha Lazaretti, managing partner of Alergoshop.

If you have a dream to undertake, the story of women who have followed this path can be of great help in starting to tread yours. Check out the trajectory of some Brazilian entrepreneurs (and amazing!) And get inspired!

1. Ana Fontes

After 17 years of career as an executive in a large company, Ana Fontes realized that the job no longer made her happy. She then decided to take charge of the situation and bring about change: in an act that many consider risky, Ana resigned, leaving her stable job to find another way.

“The decision was not easy, but although I enjoyed the work, the environment and the body dedication present no longer made me happier. I saw little of my daughter and the recognition was not in the same proportion as the dedication to work ?, says Ana.

Ana took time to dedicate herself to her family, spend more time with her daughter, and then even tried again a job with another company, where she stayed for a few months. It was then that she decided to turn her career around and invested in setting up her first own business.

Read also: 11 ideas on how to make money on the internet

In the new venture, Ana says that she made mistakes and faced challenges. It was in a training course for women entrepreneurs, 10,000 Women, that she realized she was not the only one with difficulties in entrepreneurship. Based on this perception, she created the Entrepreneurial Woman Network.

Founded in 2010, Rede Mulher Empreendedora is a space dedicated to female entrepreneurship: the site carries news, information, tips and discussions relevant to the topic. In addition, the Network aims to unite and support women entrepreneurs across the country and today has over 36,000 people registered on the site.

? The Rede Mulher Empreendedora is today a reference in Brazil and abroad as a support network for female entrepreneurship ?, says Ana. The work on the site helped to make the subject known and was the inspiration for several other initiatives. "Most important of all is seeing each entrepreneur we can help and, through our support, has taken an extra step in her journey," adds the entrepreneur.

The experience of the professional is proof that it is never too late to pursue what you want, it only takes courage and persistence to face the challenges head on and find the best way to get where you want.

In the lecture Ana gave at TEDx, it is possible to learn more about the entrepreneur's career, giving accounts of her childhood, machismo suffered in her career and her unwavering belief that women can change the world.

2. Sarah and Julinha Lazaretti

Together, sisters Sarah and Julinha Lazaretti created a company that is the solution for allergy sufferers, Alergoshop. The idea came soon after Sarah's daughter Marina was born. Sarah was looking for products to care for her daughter, who had a number of allergies, and couldn't find it. Talking with Julinha, who had a master's degree in the area of ​​Allergies, both realized that there was room to undertake.

From the creation of the company in 1993 until today, Alergoshop has grown a lot. The brand already has a catalog with about 280 products designed for allergy sufferers, has stores and retail outlets in several states, is expanding as a franchise and arrives in Brazil through the online store.

? The fact of creating a niche market that did not exist in Brazil (nor in other countries) and make it grow and appear in the market, I consider a great achievement! Knowing that we are a reference in this area for many doctors and clients and a source of inspiration for competitors is also an achievement ?, shares Sarah.

The sisters' trajectory shows that it is worth betting on new ideas, even when you have to follow a path that is still unknown.

Creating something out of nothing is very challenging and makes us feel powerful. Seeing that we are able to motivate other people to follow the same dream that we are very good ?, confides Julinha.

In the video, Sarah comments on the show? What works? a little more about what led them to undertake in this field.

3. Zica Assis

Heloísa (Zica) Assisi is a great example of growth and inspiration. The carioca, who has worked as a nanny, maid and cleaning lady, found in her own hair an idea to undertake.

Owner of curly hair, Zica was not satisfied with the appearance of the hair and could not find good products to take care of the curls in the market. Willing to find a solution to maintain natural hair, the entrepreneur took a hairdressing course and began designing and testing product formulas. This is how she found the ideal formula to treat her hair and began to attract the attention of friends and acquaintances.

Realizing the opportunity to take the product to other women who had the same problem, Zica and three other partners joined to open the first salon in 1993. The Natural Beauty Institute was born, a beauty salon specializing in taking care of curly hair and wavy, with their own products, formulated especially for those who have this type of hair.

Success was not long in coming. The niche was little explored and soon the first salon began to fill with customers who were seeking to enhance the beauty of the curls. Then, the expansion of the business began. Today, the Institute has more than 40 addresses in several Brazilian states. With the company's success, Zica was on the list of the ten most powerful businesswomen in Brazil, according to Forbes magazine.

With her work, the entrepreneur helps thousands of women across the country to embrace the beauty of curly hair and feel good about natural hair, collaborating with self-esteem and empowerment processes.

In the video, Zica tells how she got the idea and talks about the process of creating her product and the origin of the Instituto Beleza Natural.

4. Isabella Delorenzo

Isabella Delorenzo has transformed her virtual store into a network of physical stores. Created in 2009, The Brownie Shop was born as an e-commerce specializing in selling brownies. Isabella was a pioneer in the segment in Brazil: her store was the first to sell handmade brownies.

The entrepreneur, who has a degree in economics, worked for 15 years in finance before having her own business. In one of these companies, Isabella met her future husband and partner. "We used to exchange recipes and bring to the office sweets, cakes and brownies," he says. Putting their savings together, the two decided to undertake, and Isabella headed in, resigned, and devoted herself completely to the business.

He then sought specializations and training courses in the United States to master the art of brownie and marketing in food. Back in Brazil, Isabella chose to start The Brownie Shop as a virtual store, saving the initial investment? After all, with Internet sales, she didn't have to bear the cost of setting up a physical store.

With a lot of waist play, the entrepreneur managed to overcome the distrust that, at the time, the public showed when thinking about buying fresh food in digital environment. Its logistics and management strategies made the brand known and had a good sales volume throughout Brazil. However, the business was not restricted to the virtual universe for long.

With increasing demand, we set up our studio with daily batches to serve brides and event companies.Attracted by the smell of brownies coming out of the oven, the neighborhood went to the studio and the doorbell wouldn't stop, and that's when we realized the potential for opening our first physical store ?, says Isabella.

The entrepreneur's trajectory shows that the internet can be a great way to start your own business: with more affordable investments, you can kick start and expand when you already have a return and a broader budget. Today The Brownie Shop has four physical addresses.

Based on my real experience, I believe that when you do something with your heart and bring it joy and fulfillment, the chances of success increase. There is nothing more delicious than seeing the company you created yourself grow. This makes all the effort, time and money invested worth it, points out the entrepreneur.

Check out a brief article about the entrepreneur's trajectory of the online store of brownies:

5. Lenia Light

Speech therapist by training, Lénia Luz met when she changed areas and decided to undertake. One of the participants in the 10,000 Women project in 2011, experience and coexistence with other entrepreneurs inspired the creation of her new passion.

We spent months studying, reviewing our endeavors, reformulating ideas, producing a growth plan for our companies, exchanging professional and personal experiences. It was during this period that I dreamed of setting up a blog sharing our experiences ?, reports Lênia.

In 2012 the dream came true: Lénia created the Entrepreneurship Rosa, a blog with content targeted and designed especially for women entrepreneurs. With the page, the professional seeks to make a difference in the trajectory of other entrepreneurs. "To inspire, empower and leave a legacy to these women that we can be whatever we want as long as we know what really moves us," he points out.

In addition to Entrepreneurship Rosa, Lénia is also CEO and Executive Director of Aurelio Luz Retail & Franchising, a consulting company that she founded with her husband and partner, Márcio Aurelio. In her new career, managing her business and being a source of inspiration and information for others, Lénia found herself.

“Discovering my mission in what I really love to do, knowing that I am aligned with my essence as a human being and as a woman. This is undoubtedly the biggest achievement ?, reflects the entrepreneur.

See her sharing a bit about her history and the project's trajectory in a series of the Entrepreneurship Rosa channel:

6. Patricia Bonaldi

Known among fashionistas, Patricia Bonaldi is famous for her creations in the fashion world, especially the party dresses, full of details and impeccable embroidery. The talent of the fashion designer is not solely responsible for the recognition she has gained: the ability goes hand in hand with her aptitude as an entrepreneur.

The designer debuted in the market by opening a multi-brand party store. But the sale of clothes made her see the desire of customers to have different, customized pieces. Hence Patricia took the opportunity to bet on the pieces created by her and started the private label, which bears her name. Gradually, Minas Gerais gained space in fashion circuits and her career took off. By 2012, she was already creating her second brand, PatBo.

Today, Patricia Bonaldi has three own stores and markets its brands in more than a hundred multi-brand stores in Brazil, as well as reaching countries in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. A darling of several Brazilian celebrities and bloggers, the designer has become one of the biggest names in fashion in the country.

Accompanying the new collections, the expansion of its business is also renewed. In 2014, Patricia bought two other mining brands, creating Nohda, a fashion holding company that was born consolidated. In addition, its flagship brand won a spot on Brazil's most important fashion stage, São Paulo Fashion Week.

The businesswoman is a good example for those who need a little push to start believing in their own talent. Trusting what you do, forward thinking, and your work are constant in Patricia's career and important lessons for those who want to undertake.

In the video, host Joao Doria Jr. interviews designer Patricia Bonaldi.

7. Luiza Helena Trajano

Luiza Helena Trajano is largely responsible for the growth of one of the largest retail chains in the country, Magazine Luiza. Started by Luiza's uncles as a small store in the interior of São Paulo, the business transformed and expanded into the hands of the entrepreneur, who took over the company in the 1990s.

From a young niece who worked in the family business to chairman of a group with more than 700 stores spread across 16 Brazilian states, Luiza showed that she has the competence to make a company grow. Inaugurated under the name of A Cristaleira, the store acquired other competing chains and became the Magazine Luiza Group.Along with the large expansion of physical stores, the brand is also one of the pioneers of e-commerce in Brazil.

Throughout her career, Luiza made no effort and worked hard to thrive. Not coincidentally today she is a reference in the business world and has already occupied the top 3 of the most powerful entrepreneurs in Brazil in a list of Forbes magazine. The financial return is also remarkable: Luiza's fortune exceeds the $ 1 billion mark.

In addition to being one of Brazil's most successful businesswomen, Luiza is a great source of encouragement for women entrepreneurs. Luiza is a staunch advocate that women deserve a greater presence in command positions, fighting the huge gender inequality in business.

In the video you can see Luiza's stories about her beginning as a saleswoman, her mother and aunt's inspiration for her career, her values ​​and the building of Magazine.

8. Cecilia Prado

From a small town in the interior of Minas Gerais, the pieces of the young designer Cecilia Prado won the world. Owner of the brand that bears her name, Cecilia managed to stand out in the fashion market thanks to the innovation she brought to a business that was already in her family.

The mining company transformed the family knitting factory, bringing the technique to its brand and creating pieces with contemporary design and handcrafted touches. The idea was successful and it was not long before Cecilia's creations caught the attention of the market, not only national but also international? The brand has been exported since 2006.

Cecilia currently has two owned stores in Sao Paulo and sells her pieces in multi-brand and department stores in more than 20 countries across America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, with China being one of its main markets. Apart from the physical outlets, it is possible to find the designer brand in renowned online stores.

With Cecilia's story, you can see that you don't have to be born in big cities to create a company that can resonate internationally. Moreover, the trajectory of the designer shows the strength of reinventing and transforming the traditional into new things.

Next, check out a report from Jornal da Globo about Cecilia Prado's business.

9. Chieko Aoki

Is Chieko Aoki also one of the extras on Brazil's most powerful businesswomen list, according to Forbes? In 2013, she took second place. The businesswoman is founder and president of one of the largest hotel chains in the country, Blue Tree Hotels.

Prior to leading her own business, Chieko Aoki worked in other businesses in Brazil, Europe, Asia and the United States. The entrepreneur has been in the hotel industry since the 1980s, when she was marketing and sales director at a luxury hotel chain. Within the company, Aoki learned a lot and built her career with significant growth: in a few years, she had already reached the presidency of the network.

In 1997, Chieko decided to use all the knowledge she had accumulated, from law school at USP to her career in hospitality, to undertake. Thus was founded the Blue Tree Hotels chain, which follows the concept of luxury hotels and resorts and currently has more than 20 units spread over several Brazilian states.

Chieko Aoki is an inspiration to entrepreneurs around the world, especially with her leadership lessons. She is active in the world of entrepreneurship: she is part of LIDE (Group of Business Leaders) and LIDE Mulher, as well as being part of the Latin American Business Council (CEAL) and the Brazilian Academy of Marketing.

With a long and well-established career, Chieko can teach a lot about business. In the following video, you give the businesswoman's opinion on one of her main issues: leadership.

10. Sônia Hess de Souza

Adelina Clara Hess de Souza began producing shirts for sale after buying too many fabrics and realizing that she could make money from leftovers in the 1950s. The sale of parts in a truck by the state of Santa Catarina started Dudalina, today one of the largest t-shirt brands in Latin America. Years later, in 2003, Sonia took over the company started by her mother.

With her mother as a great example and inspiration, Sonia worked in the family business for 19 years before reaching the presidency and since childhood was distinguished by her sales talent. In his hands, the company grew and became a reference in quality in Brazil and other countries. Just over two years after occupying the position of president of Dudalina, joining as successor to one of her brothers, the entrepreneur succeeded in increasing the business's revenue by 50%.

Today, the company also manufactures t-shirts, pants and polo shirts, in addition to the traditional shirts. Transformed into a group, Dudalina has two more brands, Base and Individual. With factories in Santa Catarina and Paraná, Dudalina produces for large customers, such as Zara, Daslu and Levi? S.

Sharing the company's partnership with its 15 brothers, Sônia is one of the main responsible for the company's success and has also been named as one of the most powerful businesswomen in the country.

In the video, you can read Sonia's testimonials about family work and how to create value business relationships.

Not only do these women's stories serve as sources of inspiration; Lectures, workshops and courses can also help you get inspired! In addition to searching for courses and videos on the Internet, it is worth keeping an eye on initiatives aimed especially at entrepreneurs, such as OLGA Mentoring and 10,000 Women.

• Join groups (such as the Entrepreneurial Woman Network) that help exchange information and look for a good mentor. Mentoring is very important at this and any stage of business, advises Ana Fontes.

Search for the best way for you and transform your career!

The Top 50 Rules for Women Entrepreneurs - Stewart, Winfrey, Rowling, Morgan, Beyonce (April 2024)