Get All Access for $5/mo

100 Women of Impact In 2021 Our annual celebration of the women leading today's most influential, innovative companies, and changing lives while they're at it.

By Frances Dodds Edited by Frances Dodds

This story appears in the October 2021 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

Brooke Nipar

Welcome to Entrepreneur's annual 100 Women list! When deciding who (among the many incredible women we reviewed) to highlight this year, we asked one question: Who is making an impact? In the pages below you'll find star athletes, technology whizzes, investors, activists, scientists, doctors, beauty aficionados, chefs, farmers, journalists, producers, teachers, jewelers, and much more. These women are diverse in every sense, but what they have in common is a drive to challenge the status quo in their communities and industries—even within their own powerful companies. In reading their stories, again and again, you will hear some variation of: There has to be a better way. I will find it. So get inspired, and go find a better way!

Eva Longoria on Building a Power Pipeline For Latinas: "I Hate When People Say the Talent Is Not Out There"

These Women Leaders Are Changing Lives and Influencing Tomorrow's Industries—Right Now

How 8 Women Leaders in Franchising Are Overcoming the Industry's Greatest Challenge

She Was Homeless. Now She Runs a $25 Million Investment Fund for Women of Color.

8 Women Stars of the Tech World on How the Pandemic Changed Everything

Her Low-Income Patients Were Labeled 'Noncompliant and Defiant.' So She Raised $500 Million to Build a Healthcare Company That Put Them First.

These Are the Biggest Blind Spots in Diversity Initiatives, According to 8 Women Experts

8 Women Founders Talk About the Biggest Missed Opportunities in Retail

Her Mother Was Killed by a Drunk Driver. Now She's CEO of a Powerful Alcohol Company. Here's What Made Her 'Walk Into the Fire.'

How 8 Women Investors Are Fixing the Shocking Lack of Funding For Women-Led Startups

She Runs Wondery, a Podcast Company Known for Creative Risks. But It's Owned by Amazon, a Data-Driven Corporation. How Does She Make It Work?

These 8 Women Lead Sustainability at Companies Like Amazon, Daily Harvest, and Johnson & Johnson. Here's How They're Helping the Planet.

Dr. Leana Wen Celebrates a Silver Lining for Science

Frances Dodds

Entrepreneur Staff

Deputy Editor of Entrepreneur

Frances Dodds is Entrepreneur magazine's deputy editor. Before that she was features director for Entrepreneur.com, and a senior editor at DuJour magazine. She's written for Longreads, New York Magazine, Architectural Digest, Us Weekly, Coveteur and more.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Business News

She Tracked Her Missing Luggage With an Apple Device — Straight to an Airport Employee's Home

Paola Garcia flew into Terminal 4 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last month when she noticed her luggage never made it to the carousel — then her Apple Watch started pinging.

Business News

The Most Downloaded News App in the U.S. May Have Published Dozens of Fake, AI-Written Stories

The stories were fake but had real-world consequences for the app's 50 million monthly users.

Growing a Business

3 Non-Financial Factors That Could Impact Your Business' Value

For healthy companies that want to maximize their value, the qualitative indicators can be bundled into three main categories.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.