March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the women who shaped our world through courage, determination, and vision.
History is more than something to admire from a distance. It’s also a powerful leadership classroom.
Many of the women who broke barriers and changed the course of history demonstrated leadership principles that apply directly to business owners and organizational leaders today.
Here are a few lessons worth remembering.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Use Your Platform to Lift Others
Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt transformed what had traditionally been a ceremonial role into one of advocacy and influence. She championed human rights, spoke openly about difficult issues, and played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Her leadership reminds us that influence is not about status. It’s about how you use the platform you have.
Business leaders often have more influence than they realize — with employees, customers, and communities. Great leaders use that influence not just to grow their organizations, but to elevate the people around them.
Madam C.J. Walker
See Opportunity Where Others See Limits
Born to formerly enslaved parents, Madam C.J. Walker became one of the first self-made female millionaires in the United States.
She built a thriving haircare products business while creating economic opportunities for thousands of women who became sales agents.
Her story highlights a key leadership trait: vision.
Walker saw opportunity in a problem that many people ignored. She also understood the power of building networks and empowering others to succeed.
For modern entrepreneurs, the lesson is clear: Opportunities often appear where others see obstacles.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Persistence Wins
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent decades advocating for gender equality under the law.
Her work required patience, discipline, and a long-term perspective. Progress came not through one dramatic moment, but through consistent, strategic effort over time.
Leaders today face similar challenges. Growth rarely happens overnight.
Businesses are built through steady decisions, thoughtful strategy, and persistence through setbacks.
As Ginsburg once said:
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
That combination of conviction and collaboration is the hallmark of effective leadership.
Indra Nooyi
Lead with Both Head and Heart
As CEO of PepsiCo for more than a decade, Indra Nooyi helped reshape the company’s strategy and global growth.
She is also known for a personal leadership practice that became widely admired: writing letters to the parents of senior executives thanking them for raising such talented people.
It was a small gesture with a big message.
Leadership is not only about strategy and results. It is also about recognizing the humanity behind the work.
People perform at their best when they feel seen, valued, and respected.
The Leadership Takeaway
The women who changed history did not all lead in the same way.
Some were activists. Some were entrepreneurs. Some were judges, executives, or public servants. But they shared several qualities that every leader can learn from:
- Vision – seeing possibilities others overlook
- Courage – speaking up when it matters
- Persistence – staying the course when progress is slow
- Empowerment – helping others succeed
Those qualities remain just as relevant in today’s workplaces and businesses as they were in the moments that shaped history.
Women’s History Month gives us a chance to celebrate the leaders who paved the way.
The best way to honor their legacy is simple. Lead in ways that create opportunity, inspire others, and move people forward.
Because great leadership always makes the future better than the past.
Lead on,
Chris Ann Williams, CEO