Since International Women's Day was first celebrated over a century ago, the number of female-owned and operated companies has grown, with many women acting in top-level corporate positions in various industries. 

However, female ownership still represents a visible minority of overall business owners in the United States and across the globe. The U.S. Census Bureau released a study in 2022 that showed women-owned companies generate approximately $1.9 trillion in sales and are responsible for employing nearly 10 million workers nationwide. 

For centuries, the business environment restricted women to the traditional role of a wife and mother in the household, with few employment opportunities for educated or non-educated females. However, as the female civil rights groups began to organize in the 1960s-1970s, advancements in culture and politics opened up new opportunities for women in business. 

Every March 8, dozens of countries and gender equality activists worldwide have celebrated International Women's Day over the last 110 years. For 2023, the theme of the holiday is #EmbraceEquity which demands that both countries support balanced outcomes that are equitable to women.

In honor of International Women's Day, here is a background of some huge companies you may not know were started by women.