Finding Inspiration From 5 Fiercely Successful Female Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is a tough gig. Among the biggest challenges facing women who want to make their mark as successful entrepreneurs is finding the inspiration to push forward when times are a little rougher than usual. Strength in numbers is the key: successful businesswomen are usually inspired by other successful businesswomen.

Finding a role model in whom you can see yourself is an effective pick-me-up. For many female entrepreneurs, knowing that they have something in common with women who have fought the good fight and won is all the inspiration they need to push through. The concept of “sisterhood” is incredibly powerful; one could argue that this spirit of female comradery is a major contributing factor to women owning their accomplishments and proudly claiming ownership of more than 9 million U.S. firms.

Here are some key quotes from 5 fiercely prosperous female entrepreneurs to inspire the modern businesswoman on her own path to success.

1. Arianna Huffington - Founder of The Huffington Post

This Greek-American author, columnist, and businesswoman co-founded the Huffington Post over a decade ago, building it into one of the biggest and most influential digital media outlets in the U.S.

"Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it, the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me."

2. Sara Blakely - Founder of Spanx (youngest self-made female billionaire in America)

Named the “93rd most powerful woman in the world” by Forbes, never let a single failure stand in her way. Before the age of 30, this fearless entrepreneur invested her last $5000 in the design and development of shapewear that would a pair of stubborn white pants look good on any figure.

"It's important to be willing to make mistakes. The worst thing that can happen is you become memorable."

3. J.K. Rowling – Author and Founder of the Harry Potter Empire

This British novelist-turned-businesswoman was a single mother, down on her luck and struggling in several areas of her life, when she penned the first few parts of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on some wrinkled scraps of paper at a local cafe. Not only is her fortune set at an impressive ￡600 million, but she also has been noted for the social, emotional, moral, and political inspiration she has provided for fans across the globe.

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all--in which case, you fail by default."

4. Diane Von Furstenberg – Designer and Founder of DvF

Born in Belgium, this American fashion designer is best known for the signature wrap dress that took the world by storm. Diane von Furstenberg launched her label in the early 1970s and is still going strong as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

"I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay for her bills, a woman who could run her own life - and I became that woman."

5. Rashmi Sinha - Founder of SlideShare

Indian-born Rashmi Sinha surprised not only her family but also herself, when she left the path of academia to launch SlideShare, the world’s most popular conference tool which attracts 50 million users every month.

"I think it is going to be hard to trace a specific event that made me want to be an entrepreneur. I like independence. I like to build things. Being an entrepreneur allows me to do both."