Many women are still finding it hard to climb the corporate ladder, which has been tilted against them for generations. Women now make up 44% of the global workforce but hold just 31% of vice president-level roles and above, according to new research from LinkedIn. Leadership progress inside companies has slowed, even as women continue to gain ground in education and workforce participation.

But a different path to leadership is gaining momentum. Women now own over 40% of all U.S. businesses, employing 12.6 million people and generating $2.8 trillion in revenue, according to a recent report by Wells Fargo. The number of women-owned businesses grew 12% from 2022 to 2025, nearly double the growth rate for businesses owned by men.

Entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming an alternative route to influence, autonomy and long-term wealth as women entrepreneurs pursue goals seemingly less accessible in the corporate world:

1. Ownership and autonomy: 75% of women say they want to be their own boss.

2. Flexibility and control: 62% want more control over how and when they work.

3. Long-term assets: More than half of women aim to build a financial asset.

4. Income growth: A third expect entrepreneurship to increase their earnings.

The trend is particularly strong among younger women and women of color, who are ambitiously launching new businesses. In 2024, women started half of all businesses in America,........

© Forbes