8 Inspiring Stories of Female Empowerment and Success – Get Ready to Be Motivated! (4 of 5)

6. Oprah Winfrey: A Media Mogul Who Broke Barriers

The first Black female billionaire, Oprah Winfrey, has earned every penny of her wealth. She grew up in poverty in the South and faced racism every day, but refused to allow others to define her. After getting her start in broadcasting at the age of 19 as the co-anchor of a local evening news show, she gradually built a reputation as a solid presenter, leading to her getting a syndicated talk show in Chicago, one that dominated the ratings for 25 years. Today, she remains a beloved, and influential person.

7. Hedy Lamarr: The Hollywood Starlet Who Helped Develop Modern Wireless Technology

Hedy Lamarr could have been content with being a beautiful Hollywood star, but when the US entered World War II, she decided she wanted to make a contribution to the war effort. Thus, along with composer George Antheil, Lamarr created a frequency-hopping system that prevented the Nazis from being able to jam and intercept radio-controlled torpedoes. But wait, there’s more: the technology that she helped invent is the reason Wi-Fi exists today. So next time you spend an afternoon sipping on a latte at a cafe while typing away at your laptop, take a moment to show Lamarr some love!