During the last 50 years, the number and scope of women-owned businesses have risen at a virtually unprecedented rate. This historic expansion is due to the efforts of courageous women who have been willing to take the leap and become entrepreneurs, at times capitalizing on groundbreaking legislation specifically related to equality. Today, women are starting and growing their own businesses at record rates; they own an estimated 11.6 million business, employ nearly 9 million people and generate more than $1.7 trillion in annual revenues. Given what these numbers reveal about the economic growth and societal impact driven by women business owners, this paper examines whether there is something distinct about how women approach entrepreneurship, create and direct wealth, and define success.
