Many of the most successful business women in America joined sororities during college. Their sense of belonging, connection, and shared experiences no doubt influenced their future success. After all, being in a sorority not only provides a great network to tap professionally, but also helps you find your place in the community and the wider world.
Let’s look at some of the most iconic business women who have come out of the sorority scene.
Tory Burch
Tory Burch is an especially inspiring success story and shows you should always follow your heart! She not only was a successful member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, but also had a major in art history, a subject few people study today. She turned that knowledge into an amazing career in fashion design, which has made her one of the top businesswomen and philanthropists in the world today. Recently, she was named one of the most powerful women in the world by Forbes.
Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely studied communication at Florida State University. While a student, she also was in Delta Delta Delta sorority. Although she was strong academically, her story had some twists and turns – she wanted to be a lawyer at first, but reconsidered after taking the Law School Admissions Test. She worked at Disney World and even as a stand-up comic before finding her niche, relocating to Atlanta and investing her savings to found the phenomenally successful Spanx brand.
Kate Spade
Kate Spade is the co-founder of the fashion brand Kate Spade New York. At Arizona State University, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. After graduation, she worked at the groundbreaking women’s magazine Mademoiselle. Over five years at the magazine, she became a senior fashion editor. Leaving in 1991, she devoted herself to expanding ladies’ selection of sensible, stylish handbags. By 1996, she had her first SoHo boutique. Today, her brand remains a successful provider of lifestyle accessories – including great bags and much more.
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson is one of the most iconic fashion designers in America. Her accessories influenced the lives of millions of women throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She was part of Alpha Xi Delta at Syracuse University and was heavily influenced by the many dance classes she took throughout high school. She also spent time at Mademoiselle, though as an intern, before getting involved with Andy Warhol’s art movement in the 60s. Her first boutique opened in 1969 and her first independent fashion line was launched in 1978. In addition to celebrating 40 years of her brand in 2012, she also featured on her own reality show on the Style Network.
These business women come from very distinct backgrounds, with their own interests, perspectives, and experiences. The two things that tie them together are their outstanding success and their years as active sorority members. When you join a sorority, you never know who you’ll meet or who’ll go on to do amazing things – the next great success story could be about you!