The other 49 'entrepreneurs' are ranked by annual revenue. It is a little like comparing apples and oranges. The highest ranking American entrepreneur is Loida Nicholson Lewis, CEO and Chairperson of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. of New York. Multicultural Lewis is well known, and loved, in both African American and Asian American circles, as the Philippine born wife of African American Reginald Lewis, TLC's founder. When Lewis was widowed, she rescued the company that was her husband's legacy and brought it to its present success.
People usually think of entrepreneurs in terms of the smallest, start-up businesses.
These successful women meet all Jannie Tay Irma Elder criteria of entrepreneurialism. Our objective is to create awareness of this tremendous market of women business leaders. An additional requirement was that the woman also be active in community service and economic development. They come from 22 companies and every imaginable background. In fact, they reflect a growing trend.