Sara Blakely

Revolutionized women's undergarments by creating Spanx, reshaping global fashion without formal business training

Born in 1971, Sara Blakely turned a $5,000 savings into a billion-dollar empire by addressing a universal wardrobe problem: visible panty lines. As a door-to-door fax machine saleswoman frustrated with ill-fitting undergarments, she hand-cut the feet off her pantyhose to create seamless shapingwear—an idea major manufacturers dismissed as 'niche.'

Her relentless hustle—cold-calling manufacturers, patenting designs herself, and landing Oprah’s endorsement—led to Spanx becoming the first female-founded unicorn company in 2012. Unlike traditional lingerie brands, Blakely marketed body positivity through humor, famously testing prototypes at Neiman Marcus using a fake buyer persona.

Beyond business, she signed the Giving Pledge, donating half her wealth to empower women via education. Her TED Talk on embracing failure has inspired millions.