10 Female Leaders Disrupting Their Industries In 2021

Vancouver BC, January 21, 2020

On January 20th, 2021, Kamala Harris became the first female, first black, and first Asian-American Vice President of the United States. This iconic moment is one of many that is sure to follow in 2021 and years to come with female leaders recognizing their power and discovering the tools to unleash their potential.

As we step into 2021, we do so with some pretty epic statistics showcasing how women are succeeding: to date, 40% of US businesses are women-owned, there are 114% more women entrepreneurs today than there were 20 years ago, and private tech companies led by women achieve 35% higher ROI. 

In other words, women are bringing about the change they have long wished to see. We’ve highlighted 10 powerhouses actively pursuing this mission:

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Founder and CEO of Bumble

Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and CEO of Bumble, the dating app in which women make the first move. For Whitney, launching the app was the only way to make necessary changes to the dating world. She was surrounded by beautiful, smart, talented women who were waiting around for men to start the conversations and ask them out. For all the progress and advances women had made in the workplace, the power dynamics of dating still seemed outdated, and Whitney knew this was something that needed to change. 

To better protect the Bumble community’s safety of over 100 million from harassment, Whitney helped pass a law against sending unsolicited nude pictures in her home state, Texas. With women empowerment being at the forefront of the app’s creation, Herd is disrupting an industry that has long been warped by power imbalances. 

Check out Bumble’s disruptive platform here 

Marie Zimenoff 

CEO of Career Thought Leaders

Marie Zimenoff is a disrupter in the career services industry. She leads through passion and resolve, though self-described as “analytical” and “semi-introverted.” As CEO of Career Thought Leaders, owner of Resume Writing Academy, a speaker and a trainer, and a practicing career coach, Marie passionately advocates for career industry professionals. Marie began her professional career in the university setting as an academic advisor and recruiter at Colorado State University. While completing her Masters of Education in Human Resource Studies and Career Development, she interned for a woman-owned career counseling business, created a career program at a local nonprofit, and aided justice-involved individuals to re-enter the workforce. Profoundly inspired, she left her university position and launched her practice in 2008 – the year of the Great Recession.

A life-long learner, Marie holds certificates in career counseling, resume writing, career management, brand strategy, and executive and leadership development. She is a contributor for NCDA Career Developments, Yahoo! Education, Career Planning & Development Journal, Dice, Next Avenue, Business News Daily, and other media and publications.

Marie has hosted The Career Confidante Radio for 7 years and presented keynotes and workshops at national and international conferences. 

Uncover Marie’s community of Career Thought Leaders here

Sofia Vergara 

Television Producer, Actress, and Entrepreneur 

Sofia Vergara is widely known as the iconic Latina bombshell, Gloria, in Modern Family and was listed by Forbes as one of the highest-earning women in U.S. television. Recognized as one of the most influential Latina women in entertainment, Sofia is a relentless force pushing for Latino representation in top-tier entertainment. The Colombian-born actress, single-mother, and cancer survivor overcame massive barriers in her fight for success. 

Through all her accomplishments, Sofia Vergara is a role model not only to the Latino community, but also to the women who dream of becoming extraordinary, disrupting conventional preconceptions of what the path to success looks like.

Uncover Sofia’s disruptive creations here 

Kimberley Langen 

CEO and Founder of Spirit of Math Schools & Releasing the Genius Inc.

The future of the world depends on good mathematical thinkers. Globally, math education is in a state of crisis by falling short of empowering our future generations. Over the course of four decades, Kimberley Langen, the CEO and Founder of Spirit of Math Schools, has created a system of programs disrupting conventional curriculums by raising the standard of education. 

Originally developed in a Toronto public school by Kim’s father, Charles Ledger, Spirit of Math is regarded today as an award-winning educational program. Charles was recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching and was also the recipient of the Rene Descartes Foundation medal. Kim, an educator by profession herself, took the ideas of the original program and officially launched Spirit of Math from the basement of her home in 1994. With Releasing the Genius, Kim has expanded her original mission to further challenge the thinking for English and technology education. 

Kim’s mission is to inspire parents and teachers, school divisions, and employees to cultivate the potential of today’s youth to solve future problems. As a disruptor, Kim is determined to raise the education standards of the world. 

Discover more about Kim’s disruptive programs 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Political Powerhouse as Congresswoman for NY-14: Bronx & Queens 

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC, was born into a working-class family in South Bronx and is the youngest-ever politician to be elected to office in the United States House of Representatives. Recognized by Time Magazine as America’s lightning rod, She is one of this generation’s most influential political figures. 

AOC stated that going into politics wasn’t in the plan, “Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office,” she said in her first campaign video, which set the tone for the rest of her political career. Having lived through her student loan crisis, she strongly advocates for tuition-free public college among many other progressive policies. Other serious issues relating to fundamental human rights, abolishing ICE, medicare for all, universal job guarantee and criminal justice reform, are at the centre of her campaign. Alexandria is disrupting American politics in a way that few women have done before. 

Learn more about her disruptive political involvement here 

Sonia Couto

Founder of MenuSano

Sonia Couto is the Founder of two award-winning software companies: MenuSano, a globally used nutrition analysis software for restaurants, chefs, hospitals, and other foodservice providers, and Field Eagle, a mobile inspection software for high-risk industries. For nearly 14 years, the Portuguese born, Toronto-based female innovator has continually been a disrupter in a primarily male-dominated industry – tech. Sonia is the Managing Director of Konverge Digital Solutions, Toronto’s leading custom software development firm, listed among Canada’s Best Managed Companies for over seven years.

As the founder of MenuSano, Sonia has overseen the software company’s development since its inception in 2010. Sonia combines her passion for technology with a company culture that inspires innovation and growth. The mission behind MenuSano is to improve public health by helping foodservice providers create recipes and generate compliant nutrition labels. In 2017, Sonia was diagnosed with breast cancer which reinforced the true value of gaining control over her health and body. By 2018 – due to Sonia’s influence and strategic initiatives – she successfully took MenuSano international and was recognized as an industry gamechanger. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in software and leadership and serves as an Ambassador for the After Breast Cancer Charity.

Check out how Sonia is disrupting the foodservice industry through software here 

Arlene Santiago

CEO and Founder of Mom Bod Redefined

Arlene Santiago is the CEO and Founder of Mom Bod Redefined, a health and fitness coaching program that provides a disruptive solution for women seeking to transform their health after childbirth while also managing a busy life with children. The program helps members form new lifestyle habits while providing accountability. Participants receive a health and fitness evaluation, virtual coaching sessions, customized workout programs, habit-based coaching, mindset coaching, a signature Mom Bod Redefined program, and a voice messaging system amongst other features promoting life-changing results. As a health and transformation coach, Arlene helps moms key in on both nutrition and exercise, primarily concentrating on her clients’ mindsets by encouraging them to embrace the change. 

The NCI Mindset Specialist is also a Certified Personal Trainer (WITS), yoga instructor, certified brain resetter (SQUARE 1™ Certified Pro Motor Control Restoration Specialist), nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1), injury prevention and performance optimization specialist (NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist), and assists in the development of healthier lifestyle for active, older adults as a Senior Fitness Specialist. 2020 saw amazing things for Arlene, including the success of a book that she co-authored in becoming an Amazon #1 Bestseller, and we are thrilled to see her disruptive approach to health and wellness persist into 2021. 

Learn how Arlene is disrupting women’s health trends! 

Danielle Gray

CEO and Founder of Mindset to Manifest

Danielle Gray is an entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of Mindset to Manifest, a mindset and manifestation coach and the host of a brand-new podcast called You Can Manifest! on helping empower you to use the Law of Attraction to shift your mindset toward co-creating in alignment with the Universe for a better, transformed life. In her signature program, Manifestation Mindset Mastery, Danielle opens up about her transformation story of going from being stuck in the cycle of self-sabotage and without any foreseeable income or savings, to manifesting an extremely successful coaching business and a 6-figure salary which allows Danielle the freedom to live life on her terms without financial constraints or worry.

Danielle coaches women to do the inner work she tried so hard to avoid, along with the mindset and manifestation training she used to obtain a fulfilling life. Her customized coaching program offers instruction on how to set clear intentions, reprogram your beliefs, thoughts, and identity on the subconscious level, embody the ideal version of yourself, release the ‘how’ and allow, follow your intuition and divine guidance to take inspired action, and live a completely fulfilling life by doing something that supports you financially. 

Discover Danielle’s secrets to Manifestation

Stacy Raske

Iraq War Veteran and Founder of Stacy Raske LLC

Stacy Raske is an unstoppable force leading visionary founders and CEO’s to remarkable success with greater ease and authenticity. As a #1 bestselling author, speaker, badass biker chick, podcast host, international success coach, leadership mentor, and intuitive business consultant, Stacy leads from experience and expertise, proving her methods with the powerful results her clients’ experience. Her mission is to guide visionary founders & CEOs to become revolutionary leaders by helping them shift from intimidating to influential through unlocking their full authenticity, hiring their inner rebel, and balancing their power. This allows them to finally shatter the invisible ceiling, leave a bigger impact and legacy, and experience unconditional success in every aspect of their lives, loves, and livelihood.  

2021 is bringing with it big things for Stacy, who recently launched her podcast on ALL major podcast platforms, The InFLOWential CEO, where she has real, raw conversations with amazing guests about leadership, legacy, and lifestyle. Crafted for visionaries, trailblazers, rule breakers, and paradigm shifters, Stacy is calling fellow powerhouses to embody their highest purpose, elevate their legacy of impact, and lead revolutions. For many, the biggest challenge to unleashing their full power and potential is staying trapped in cycles of hustle and subtle sabotage. Stacy is disrupting the current model of leadership and success by inspiring her followers to lead with more vulnerability and authenticity, allowing them to elevate their legacy of impact by being InFLOWential.

Discover Stacy’s disruptive solutions here. 

Reese Witherspoon

Producer, Actress, and Entrepreneureur

Once upon a time, Reese Witherspoon was most recognized for her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Though an iconic role, the powerhouse has since proven that was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the accomplishments she is capable of. The actress, producer, and entrepreneur is changing Hollywood by becoming a force in female storytelling through starting her own media company Hello Sunshine. Founded as a solution to the injustice Reese was experiencing from lead studio executives telling her there was no market for female-driven narratives, Hello Sunshine is intent on creating women-centred powerful storylines.

Reese is disruptively breaking down barriers that have historically dictated how far women can take their careers, showing women everywhere that the limit does not exist. 

Discover Reese’s disruption at Hello Sunshine