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Celebrating Women Leaders in America's Top Industries
Celebrating Women Leaders in America's Top Industries
By: Jenn Brusco | March 2025
Throughout history, America has been known as the land of opportunity. And while that history may not always be pristine or without fault, there is evidence that points to true, trailblazing innovation … with many women leading the way. As we celebrate women’s history month, we would be remiss to not highlight some of the amazing women who have made significant contributions to our top industries. From healthcare and business to technology and skilled trades, there’s a lot to celebrate!
Healthcare
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are approximately 22 million healthcare workers in the U.S., and nearly 80% of them are women. With such a large presence, it should come as no surprise that women are shaping the healthcare industry from the inside out. Learn about a few women healthcare leaders that have certainly made their mark!
Florence Nightingale: Florence Nightingale is best known as the founder of modern nursing. She established the first training school for nurses and has been credited as advocating for sanitary practices in hospitals. During the Crimean War in 1854, Nightingale worked with a group of nurses to care for wounded soldiers. She could be seen carrying a lantern, checking on soldiers at night, which garnered her the nickname, “Lady with the Lamp.” As a result of their efforts, they were able to decrease the death rate from 40% to 2%. “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm,” she said.
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier: These women trailblazers won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a genome editing technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9. This technique enables researchers to alter the DNA of plants, animals, and microorganisms. “There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which affects us all. It has not only revolutionized basic science, but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments,” says Claes Gustafsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler: As the first African American female to earn a medical degree in the U.S., Rebecca Lee Crumpler began her career as a nurse. She remained steadfast in her career pursuits, despite tremendous challenges as a result of racism and sexism from her colleagues. She didn’t let these challenges stop her from promoting preventative care and advocating for greater access to healthcare. She later went on to publish, Book of Medical Discourses, in 1883, focused on maternal and pediatric care. “I early conceived a liking for and sought every opportunity to relieve the suffering of others,” she said.
Could you be the next trailblazer in healthcare?
The first step toward greatness tomorrow is to continue your education today. Check out some of U.S. Career Institute’s healthcare certificate and degree programs.
Business
Rising to the top of corporate America and transforming the way businesses operate requires grit and gumption, something women have in spades. Reports show that in 2024 women-owned businesses in the U.S. accounted for nearly 40% of all businesses. Whether starting their own business or breaking through the glass ceiling of the corporate world, women are breaking through barriers and blazing a new path. Let’s explore a few business boss ladies who have taken the business world by storm.
Madam CJ Walker: They say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But as many women can attest, it never hurts to have a little help to feel your absolute best. Madam CJ Walker was a trailblazing beauty innovator, creating a specialized product line for African American hair care. Her business was wildly successful, enabling her to become a self-made millionaire. Walker once said, "There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights."
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: A first-generation entrepreneur and global business leader, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon, India’s largest biopharmaceutical company, in 1978. She is committed to equitable access to healthcare. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, Global Economy Prize for Business, and AWSM Award for Excellence. “As you become more successful, the gender barrier disappears. The credibility challenges you have during your growing up years starts disappearing when you start demonstrating success,” Mazumdar-Shaw shared.
Sara Blakely: The founder and part-owner of Spanx, Sara Blakely is an inventor and savvy businesswoman who built a successful business from an idea to a billion-dollar business. What started as a simple desire for an undergarment that could offer a slimming effect without being detectable under her clothing, became a fashion phenomenon. Blakely created her first prototype and hit the road to model and market the product to major department stores. Her innovative ideas and sheer tenacity led to her business success.
Could you be the next trailblazer in business?
Whether you have an innovative product or business idea, or you’re ready to climb the corporate ladder, understanding foundational business strategies and tactics will help you find success in your career. Check out some of U.S. Career Institute’s business certificate and degree programs.
Skilled Trades
Not every career path is destined to land you in an office; some careers are designed to allow you to develop a specialized skill and offer that service in a non-traditional environment. For example, HVACR technicians, electricians, and plumbers are essential in both commercial and personal environments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women account for approximately 3% of HVACR technicians, electricians, and plumbers in America. While 3% may not seem like a lot, the contributions women have made in skilled trades is significant.
Alice H. Parker: Alice H. Parker patented the natural gas central heating system in 1919, which laid the groundwork for modern central heating systems. The inspiration was born from a relatable problem – a desire for a stronger and more consistent heating solution than a simple fireplace. Living in New Jersey, where the winters can be bitter cold, Parker sought a better solution to heat her home. Imagine a winter without reliable heating … lucky for us, Alice H. Parker invented the natural gas heating system so we can escape the cold and embrace the warmth throughout our businesses and homes.
Edith Clarke: A brilliant mathematician and engineer, Edith Clarke became the first professionally employed female electrical engineer in the United States. Clarke authored or co-authored an impressive 19 technical papers – one of which she presented at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE). Not only was she the first woman to present an AIEE paper, she also became the first woman to be honored by the AIEE.
Lillian Ann Baumbach: The first woman to pass the master plumber exam in the 1950s, Lillian Ann Baumbach joined the ranks of a male-dominated industry. Before earning this achievement, Baumbach accompanied her father on plumbing jobs and worked as a secretary in his plumbing business. Although there were no women in the field yet, she decided to break through the industry norms and take the master plumber exam. Her achievement quickly made waves throughout the industry, and her appearance gave her the nickname, “the pretty plumber.”
Could you be the next trailblazer in a skilled trade?
Pursuing a career in a skilled trade like HVAC or plumbing may be the perfect move for someone who wants a non-traditional work schedule and the opportunity to solve problems and work with a variety of clients. Check out some of U.S. Career Institute’s skilled trade certificate programs.
