By: Andrew Medal

As I wrote this column, I thought about two of my biggest role models growing up.

I was raised by a single mother — Dana — who has been one of my biggest role models. She worked two jobs while raising four children just to keep us in a nice neighborhood and provide us with financial stability in an otherwise unstable environment. She runs marathons without training, she graduated successfully from law school late in life, and has picked up the foundational skills of web design as she works with me building my digital marketing agency.

Even more impressive, we’re in the process of launching her own startup, which will debut soon (teaser: it’s Mom-4-Hire to help startups with simple services).

My aunt Anita is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. She fought for civil and women’s rights in the 1960s, worked her way up to being a top executive at Xerox and has gone on to live a life that many only dream of. She is modern and hip. She uses Facebook, rents her house on AirBnB and is a renowned photographer. This may not seem like anything worth mentioning, until you find out she’s in her 70s, but looks like she’s in her 40s.

There are countless women entrepreneurs making big moves and shaking up the startup world. Here are a handful of impressive female entrepreneurs making a name for themselves:

1. Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal

Nasty Gal is an online clothing retailer with an edge and forward-thinking style that’s just as unique as Amoruso herself. Nasty Gal is a term originally coined on a Betty Davis album, and her defiant and outspoken sexy style. I first read about Amoruso a few years ago on TechCrunch, and have enjoyed watching her build an empire since.

Despite stepping down as CEO and rumors of the company’s slowed growth, Amoruso is still hailed as “Fashion’s New Phenom,” as Forbes called her. Nasty Gal is still an iconic brand and Amoruso recently released what became an instant bestseller titled #GIRLBOSS, which is one third memoir, one third management guide and one third girl manifesto.

I’m excited to see what Amoruso continues to accomplish, and see where she can take Nasty Gal.

2 and 3. Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna, founders of Birchbox

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