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The Women Behind the Digital Retail Revolution
More than ever before, women have led in the e-commerce space and pioneered innovation, and so we celebrate the female power players behind the digital revolution.
Emma Grede
Co-founder and CEO of US-based premium brand Good American promotes the ideals of a healthy body, with an inclusive size range from 00 through to size 24. In 2018, after analysing their returns and seeing that size 14 and 16 made up 50 percent of it, she developed a size 15 to meet demand.
She is also the Chairman of ITB Worldwide, the talent management and marketing company she founded in 2008 at 24-years-old. The company’s extensive client list includes MasterCard, Lacoste, Pandora and Tik Tok. Part of the Women for Women’s International global board of directors, as well as a UK ambassador she is in the business of empowering women.
Maria Hatzistefanis
From writing about fashion and beauty products in Seventeen magazine to owning the million-dollar beauty empire recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Maria Hatzistefanis is the founder and mastermind behind Rodial and her skincare and make-up brand NIP+FAB. In the beginning of developing her business, mentorship was not something Hatzistefanis had access to and she often found herself having to figure out how to run her business alone. She advises young entrepreneurs wanting to secure investment for their start up to always have a ‘plan b’ in order to achieve their dreams.
Jennifer Hyman
Jennifer Hyman is the co-founder and chief executive of Rent the Runway; the shopping platform she founded in 2009 which disrupted the way women shopped and got dressed. Under her leadership, the company has raised over $525 million in capital, holds a community of 11 million members and is valued at $1 billion. The subscription fashion service boasts over 600 labels including Tory Burch, Nicole Miller and GOOD AMERICAN.
Aisha Kamani
Aisha Kamani is the momager and wife within the billion-pound Boohoo empire. The Boohoo Group owns a portfolio including PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal and most recently has announced it would like to acquire the brand and websites of high street chains Oasis Stores and Warehouse for £5.25 million.
Amina Muaddi
Before her namesake shoe brand Amina Muaddi, came Oscar Tiye and a collaboration with French designer Alexandre Vauthier. Muaddi found her start as a stylist for L’Uomo Vogue and GQ. A self-taught designer, she spent 12-months in Riviera del Brenta with an artisan there, learning how to make each component of a shoe.
For Muaddi, it was important to incorporate her Italian heritage and for her shoes to have the finishing touch of ‘Made in Italy’, citing that the quality and diligence was unrivalled. The Amina Muaddi shoe brand launched in August 2018 and by December 2019, she had been sought out by Rihanna to design footwear for FENTY. The collection went live in July 2020, with many pieces selling out in minutes.
The duo released a second collection months later in November. The month of November also saw the debut of Muaddi’s handbag collection AMINS In December 2020, she won the ‘Collaborator of the Year Award’ alongside Rihanna and Rihanna’s stylist Jahleel Weaver. A few days later, alongside artist and style icon ASAP Rocky, came their shoe collection AWGE X AMINAMUADDI.
Sara Blakely
American businesswoman and self-made billionaire, Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx. At 27-years-old, she moved to Atlanta and dedicated two years and $5,000 of her savings to research and develop Spanx. Spanx achieved $4 million in sales in its first year and $10 million in sales in its second year.
She launched the Sara Blakely Foundation in 2006 to help women through education and entrepreneurial training. She was given $750,000 by her mentor Richard Branson to begin running the foundation. Since its inception, Blakely has funded scholarships and donated $1 million to Oprah Winfrey’s academy. She became the first female-billionaire to become part of The Giving Pledge where she has vowed to give away at least half of her wealth in 2013. In 2020, she pledged to give $5 million in support of female-led small businesses to help them through the global pandemic.
Grace Beverley
The young entrepreneur is leaving her mark within the fitness industry with her 3 businesses Shreddy, TALA and B_ND.
Claire Henderson
You may know her as the co-founder of Oh Polly and Bo and Tee; an array of beautiful, satin, figure-hugging party dresses, two-pieces and trendy activewear, however, Claire Henderson is the compassionate leader behind both brands, reforming the nation of Cambodia, Asia.
On her first visit to Cambodia, in 2008, she discovered that the country was deeply impoverished, with the majority of its 15.5 million population having poor health and limited access to education and opportunities. Claire, who was just a university student at the time, was called to action after witnessing and learning about the various lifestyles and heart-breaking stories from the residents.
Hanifa Mvumeba
Holly Tucker
British business woman and small business enthusiast, Holly Tucker MBE is best known for her online marketplace notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co, a platform she created to change the landscape of small businesses. In 2020, she launched the Independent Awards, a campaign in support of small businesses and creating greater exposure for them.