The world of business is changing faster than ever, and women are leading the charge with vision, resilience, and innovation. From tech pioneers and wellness advocates to trailblazers in design, real estate, and social impact, these founders are not only building successful companies but also shaping the way we live and work. Each of them represents what it means to turn passion into purpose and challenges into opportunities. This list of 20 female founders spotlights the women making bold moves in 2025, women who are setting new standards for leadership, creativity, and impact.
Dr. Asma Saliba
Dr. Asma Saliba is a clinical pharmacist, skincare expert, and entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to helping people feel healthier and more confident in their own skin. She is the founder of Prevention Clinics and Yourdra®, where she brings together science, innovation, and a holistic approach to health and beauty.
After studying pre-medicine at the American University of Beirut, she earned her Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the Lebanese American University in collaboration with Michigan University. Over the past 16 years, she has worked closely with patients, always focusing on prevention and long-term results rather than quick fixes.
Her philosophy, “Prevention 2 Perfection,” reflects her belief that caring for your health early on is the key to radiant skin and overall well-being. She has also pioneered the use of phytopharmaceuticals and health-tech to create personalized skincare routines that truly match each individual’s needs.
Through her clinics and online platform, Dr. Asma makes it easy for people to access advanced facials, body treatments, nutrition support, and expert advice—all designed to improve quality of life in a simple and sustainable way.
Stefanie Faye
Stefanie Faye is a world-renowned neuroscience expert who works with private clients and large organizations such as MIT, the FBI, Google, Stanford, and Northwestern University, as well as with non-profits, coaches, consultants, and educators all over the world. Her graduate studies from New York University focused on self-directed neuroplasticity, self-regulation, and empathy. She is currently a lead researcher for a variety of global organizations, and a former intelligence analyst and French teacher to diplomats. She has expertise in brain mapping (qEEG), heart rate variability, and other neurophysiological measurements that are used to guide people’s journeys of transformation and overall well-being. She combines all of that with mindfulness training in monasteries and from meditation masters from India, Vietnam, and Africa.
Ashley Madsen
Ashley Madsen is a board-certified Physician Associate, longevity expert, and international speaker redefining how health and performance are approached worldwide. She is the Co-Founder of LUMARA Collective, a global consultancy curating and implementing advanced wellness ecosystems for private homes, leading medical clinics, luxury hotels, and members' clubs.
With advanced training from Stanford University, the Institute for Functional Medicine, and the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine, Ashley teaches the art of blending cutting-edge science, AI, and technology with holistic, personalized medicine. Her expertise spans hormone therapy, peptide protocols, genomics, regenerative therapeutics, and integrative approaches to metabolic health and sexual wellness.
Recognized for her leadership in the longevity and wellness space, Ashley designs future-ready, science-backed systems that elevate patient outcomes and guest experiences across the globe. Her mission is to make next-generation health strategies both accessible and foundational—empowering individuals to reclaim vitality, resilience, and function at every stage of life.
Lisa Sicre
Lisa Sicre is widely recognized as the Middle East’s leading lampshade designer, known for her innovative vision and impeccable craftsmanship. Born and raised in Sweden, Lisa’s passion for interiors was sparked early by her parents’ love of 1960s design and iconic furniture.
With over 20 years of experience in styling, product creation, and spatial planning, Lisa developed a keen eye for coherence and character in every project. While working across the Middle East, Lisa identified a gap for high-quality, custom lampshades, inspiring her to launch Lampshades Dubai.
Her brand creates bespoke lampshades that bring warmth, identity, and style to any space. Lisa’s work lights prestigious venues for luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, and Dubai’s Marsa Al Arab.
Outside design, she draws creative energy from yoga, music, hiking, and swimming, continually fueling her artistic journey.
Xhoana Sylaj
Xhoana Sylaj is the Founder, Writer, and Content Creator of Diva's Dialogue. It is a bold platform dedicated to helping individuals define success outside outdated systems. That means owning ambition without guilt, taking up space without apology, and building lives that reflect their values, not just their job titles. It is about choosing power and softness, career and freedom, on their own terms.
Through career coaching, tools, and resources, she helps ambitious professionals navigate modern workspaces with power and clarity. She is on a mission to redefine what ambition, confidence, and leadership look like for the modern achiever. With strategic storytelling, career playbooks, and punchy real-talk commentary, Xhoana empowers individuals to step into their power, challenge outdated norms, and build lives and careers they truly want.
What sets her apart is her ability to merge sharp career strategy with bold storytelling. She translates complex workplace challenges into clear, actionable insights that help leaders think, lead, and show up as their strategic selves.
Dr. Shelby Dorsey
Dr. Shelby Dorsey, BCBA, LBA, is an autistic, queer behavior analyst with ADHD whose journey reflects resilience, curiosity, and purpose. Raised in rural West Texas by a farmer and a teacher, Shelby became a mother at sixteen and left high school to care for her daughter. Determined to continue her education, she pursued her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Southwestern Oklahoma State University before earning her Ph.D. in behavior analysis from the University of Oklahoma.
Today, Dr. Dorsey is the Director of Clinical Services at a private ABA provider serving autistic children and adolescents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She also runs SD Consulting, where she provides individualized support in parenting, leadership, and behavior analysis. Her approach emphasizes compassionate, assent-based practices that prioritize dignity and respect.
Blending her love of fashion, human behavior, and advocacy, Shelby founded theSD.store, a small business that uses bold, creative designs to reshape attitudes toward ABA. Through wearable messages, she promotes inclusivity and authentic neurodivergent perspectives while challenging outdated practices.
A mother of two, wife, entrepreneur, and educator, Dr. Shelby Dorsey continues to inspire others by combining science, creativity, and lived experience to advance compassionate behavior change.
Heather Whitley
Heather Whitley’s origin story starts pregnant in 1999, asking her OB why nearly every woman in that hospital got an episiotomy during birth, and the c-section rate was 30%. The answer lit a fire to depart from the surgeon and sent her searching for holistic providers who respected the body’s design and were more experts on normal physiological birth. She realized she needed to find something off the conveyor belt. That search led to four home births, an accredited midwifery degree to add to her undergraduate finance degree, and a purpose.
Whitley became a Certified Professional Midwife and clinical educator, founding Sego Birth Suite & Midwifery in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her calling creates safe, reverent spaces where women remember that they are capable, intuitive, and built for the sacred process of pregnancy and birth.
She challenges the culture of fear, over-intervention, and lack of informed consent in institutional maternity care and invites women back into trust with their bodies, their babies, and the beautiful, transformative miracle that is birth.
Candice Drake
Candice Drake is the Owner and Operator of Healing Hands Massage Therapy and Skin Care. As a licensed Massage Therapist and stretch practitioner, she has dedicated years to improving the physical health and well-being of her clients. Expanding her expertise beyond bodywork, Candice became a certified Life and Energy Coach and Breath Work Facilitator, allowing her to support clients in strengthening not only their physical state but also their emotional wellness.
Her practice emphasizes the healing power of breath and sound as tools for rewiring the nervous system. Through these modalities, Candice helps individuals reach a calm, meditative state that encourages clarity, balance, and healthier decision-making. She approaches each client with an integrative focus, combining physical therapy techniques with energy work to promote full-body healing and restoration.
In addition to her private practice, Candice serves as the Head Director of the Healing Hands Institute for Esthetics. In this role, she guides aspiring professionals in holistic skin care and wellness education, preparing the next generation of practitioners with both technical skills and a grounding in compassionate, client-centered care.
Lexa Tavernier
Lexa Tavernier, founder of Soma, is an Integrative Somatic Coach with more than a decade of experience helping individuals heal through body-based, trauma-informed practices. Her journey into this work began with a profound personal challenge: at 21, she survived brain cancer and underwent brain surgery in 2012. This life-altering experience sparked her passion for brain and nervous system health and gave her a unique perspective on resilience, healing, and the deep connection between body and mind.
Lexa’s coaching blends somatic movement, meditation, yoga, and energy work with evidence-based trauma-informed approaches. She specializes in guiding people through the impacts of trauma, chronic stress, and self-doubt by creating a safe, compassionate space where clients can reconnect with their bodies, release stored pain, and cultivate inner strength. Her work emphasizes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt, as a pathway to healing and transformation.
Through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and tailored programs, Lexa empowers individuals to build resilience, reclaim a sense of wholeness, and live more authentically. Her practice is rooted in both personal experience and professional expertise, allowing her to meet each client with empathy, care, and practical tools for lasting change.
Sarah Dawn Bergs
Sarah Bergs is a visionary South African social entrepreneur and founder of Nourish Eco Village, a groundbreaking model for rural development that integrates conservation, community upliftment, and sustainable enterprise. Raised near Kruger National Park, she witnessed the links between poverty, poaching, and environmental degradation—fueling her mission to create “ecosystems of opportunity” in underserved villages.
Since 2011, Nourish has grown into a platform reaching 15,000+ people annually, providing over 30,000 meals a month, creating jobs, and training youth in regenerative agriculture and alternative livelihoods. In 2024, Sarah was honored with the UMass Leader of Impact Award for her work.
Now, in 2025, she’s scaling to a third Eco Village focused on food systems and rural resilience. With a vision to replicate the model across Sub-Saharan Africa, Sarah is proving that community-led, holistic development can be both sustainable and scalable—redefining what future-facing impact looks like for funders, changemakers, and communities alike.
Urvashi Mishra
Urvashi Mishra is an award-winning wedding planner celebrated across the USA and beyond for her ability to turn dreams into unforgettable celebrations. From 2016 to 2022, she was recognized as the Best Wedding Planner, a distinction that highlights her consistent excellence in the industry. Her expertise and creativity have also been showcased on two international reality shows focused on weddings, where she brought her signature style and fresh perspective to a global audience.
As the founder of RADZ EVENTS, Urvashi has curated weddings across the world, from intimate ceremonies to grand multi-day affairs. Her approach combines meticulous attention to detail with a deep understanding of her clients’ vision, culture, and traditions. She specializes in South Asian weddings while offering personalized planning and design for diverse celebrations. Whether working with lavish budgets or modest ones, her mission remains the same: to make every wedding feel perfect and personal.
A proud woman entrepreneur, Urvashi continues to inspire couples and fellow professionals with her innovative ideas and dedication. Through RADZ EVENTS, she offers not just event planning services but a complete experience where style, preference, and budget align seamlessly to create memories that last a lifetime.
Brandice Hulsey
DJBrandice “The Musical Healer” is a multi-genre singer-songwriter, musician, and producer whose mission is to use music as a powerful tool for healing, empowerment, and transformation. With a sound that blends soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and dynamic rhythms, she creates music that speaks to love, hope, and resilience. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and positive change in the music industry, DJBrandice uses her voice, both on and off the stage, to inspire and uplift.
As a proud Recording Academy voting member, she brings her influence and artistry to the forefront, championing authenticity and representation. Her latest EP, Love Phases, takes listeners on an emotional journey through the many layers of love and self-discovery, showcasing her versatility and depth as an artist.
Whether performing live or creating in the studio, DJBrandice’s energy is rooted in healing and connection, earning her the title “The Musical Healer.” Her mission is clear: to move hearts and minds through the transformative power of music.
Darcy Iverson
Darcy Iverson is a premier Matchmaker and Relationship Strategist dedicated to helping the world’s most accomplished men and women find extraordinary love. She combines psychology, attachment science, and feminine leadership with a bespoke, results-driven matchmaking process. Over the past decade, Darcy has guided hundreds of leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries into marriages and aligned partnerships, creating power couples whose love matches their ambition.
Known for her intuitive discernment and discreet, high-touch approach, Darcy has built one of the nation’s most elite matchmaking networks, connecting exceptional women with provider-oriented men — from self-made millionaires to global entrepreneurs. She believes love is the ultimate legacy and is renowned for her ability to design introductions that go beyond chemistry to lasting devotion.
Kara Haynesworth
Kara Haynesworth is a dynamic Health & Wellness Coach and Social Media Strategist who turned her personal transformation into a powerful mission to uplift others.
In 2020, Kara embarked on a life-changing weight loss journey, shedding 50 pounds and discovering not just a healthier body but a renewed sense of purpose. She believes health and life are intertwined. Fueled by her own success, she launched her business with a clear vision: to help others lose weight, build confidence, and become the best version of themselves.
Known for her adventurous spirit, fearless attitude, and go-getter mindset, Kara inspires her community to face their fears and take that first step to living their best life. Her approach to health and wellness is rooted in authenticity, encouragement, and real-life results. Her no BS tough love approach is what sets her apart. Whether she's coaching clients or creating content, Kara is committed to helping others unlock their dream life—with energy, passion, and purpose.
Nadine Okorefe
Trailblazing investment professional Nadine Okorefe is the Founder and CEO of Anthony Grace Properties, a UK-based Deal Sourcing firm rooted in faith, integrity, trust, and excellence. With over 15 years of experience driving operational excellence and strategic growth across asset classes at some of the world’s most prestigious investment firms, she brings unparalleled insight and visionary leadership to every venture.
Named in honour of her parents, Anthony and Grace, the firm combines deep market expertise with a values-led philosophy—offering expertly curated investment opportunities across major UK cities to empower clients to build generational wealth with intention.
At the core of Nadine’s mission is a belief that success goes beyond financial returns. It’s measured in peace of mind, fulfilment, and time—true markers of meaningful wealth. Known for her authenticity, charisma, and unwavering determination, Nadine is cultivating a community of purpose-driven investors united by the pursuit of a life less ordinary.
Arwen Dyer
Professional intuitive Arwen Dyer works with coaches, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders using a tapestry of alchemy, natural laws, neuroscience, psycho-education, and quantum physics. She guides clients to integrate dysfunctional patterns and awaken their intuition as powerful creators of their desired reality. A highly-qualified former trauma, craniosacral, and arts therapist, Arwen assists with life transitions, personal transformation, spiritual awakening, business growth, and leadership excellence.
Arwen is the founder and C.E.O. of Sisters for a New World, an organization providing transformational online programs and in-person retreats. Arwen was hand-selected by Australia’s top coach, Christopher Duncan, to facilitate and coach using Magnetic Mind™and Rapid Recode™ at Conscious Education Company.
Published and awarded internationally as a photographer, Arwen’s first written book is due for release in 2024. Arwen and her two young boys live in Tasmania, Australia, where they enjoy dancing, playing outdoors and spending time with their many pets.
Mariken Jansen
Mariken Jansen van Vuuren is a trailblazing marketing strategist and co-founder of Quantumflux Digital, a forward-thinking agency dedicated to empowering companies to achieve and surpass their growth ambitions. With over 13 years of experience, Mariken has led groundbreaking initiatives that drive significant impact, seamlessly blending innovative digital strategies with a deep passion for brand storytelling.
As a visionary leader, Mariken is committed to creating meaningful connections between brands and their audiences, ensuring every campaign delivers real, measurable results. Her approach is rooted in collaboration, pushing her team and clients to challenge conventions and explore new possibilities. Leading the London office, Mariken is focused on making a lasting impact in the digital landscape, always staying ahead of the curve and shaping the future of marketing and innovation.
Iryna Lazar
Iryna Lazar is the visionary founder of JeuDerm Yuversity, a leading educational academy specializing in aesthetic medicine. With an extensive background as a Master in Aesthetic Medicine, Pharmaceutical Specialist, and Dermocosmetologist, Iryna is a distinguished expert in Korean aesthetics and innovative beauty therapies. Originally from Ukraine and now based in Spain, she has dedicated her career to advancing the field of non-invasive aesthetic treatments, particularly focusing on cutting-edge Korean techniques. Through JeuDerm Yuversity, Iryna empowers professionals worldwide by offering specialized training programs and certifications, helping them master advanced techniques and establish successful careers in the aesthetic industry.
Margot Corporaal
Margot Corporaal is a successful entrepreneur since 2013. As a consultant,she managed large portfolios in corporate environments. Despite being very successful in her business, Margot hit a major wall in 2020. Margot was living in her head; it was time to reconnect with her feelings. This became an incredible journey of personal development. It inspired her to start Procezza.
With her company Procezza, Margot creates an environment where personal development is stimulated around all conceivable life themes. Think of health, career, energy, money, etc. An online platform helps with an overview and structure to set goals or to connect with like-minded people.
Procezza now has a worldwide community of like-minded people who connect with each other online and offline, both internationally and regionally. We have a community where we stimulate growth through events such as masterminds, retreats, masterclasses, and networking events.
Klaudia Zubik
Klaudia Zubik, founder of Klaudia Zubik Inc., is a trailblazer in the esoteric business world. Renowned as a tarot reader and mentor, she has empowered countless women, including Polish celebrities, to craft personal brands that thrive. With a deep-rooted passion for esotericism, Klaudia’s journey began at birth and has evolved into a global enterprise. After making her mark in Poland, she moved her business to New York, where her influence now spans Manhattan and Brooklyn. Klaudia has transformed her expertise into a thriving enterprise, earning nearly a million dollars in the process. Her company, a member of the International Association of Therapists since 2021, offers internationally accredited courses in esotericism and business, available online with English subtitles. Klaudia’s innovative approach and dedication to her craft continue to inspire and guide women in creating profitable and meaningful careers in the esoteric industry.
Final Thoughts
The stories of these founders remind us that progress doesn’t come from following the well-trodden path, it comes from reimagining what’s possible. Their work is proof that leadership has many faces, and the future is brighter when diverse voices are at the table. As we look ahead, these women will continue to inspire, innovate, and push boundaries, showing the next generation of entrepreneurs what it means to lead with both strength and purpose.