IBHOF Website

African - American First Ladies of Distinction

(Business - Corporate)

"We cannot accurately comprehend either our hidden potential or full range of problems that besiege us until we know the successful struggles that generations of Foremothers waged against virtually insurmountable obstacles." - Darlene Clark Hines



Elizabeth Keckley

Elizabeth Keckley [1818 – 1907], a fashion designer, was a slave who purchased her freedom and became the first to serve as a personal confidante, companion, and dress designer for Mary Todd Lincoln [wife of President Abraham Lincoln from 1861 - 1865].

Sarah Goode

Sarah Goode (1850 – 1905), an entrepreneur and inventor, was the first to be granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office for her invention of a folding bed in 1885.

Maggie Lena Walker

Maggie Lena Walker [1864 - 1934], a teacher and businesswoman, was the first to become a bank president [St Luke Penney Savings BANK, Richmond VA] in 1903.

Madam C.J. Walker

Madam C.J. Walker (1867 – 1919), a civil rights activist, philanthropist and entrepreneur, was regarded as the first to become a self – made millionaire; however, research now reflects her mentor in the hair care industry, Annie Turnbo Malone, as the first millionaire.

Annie Turnbo Malone

Annie Turnbo Malone (1869 - 1957), an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and scientist, was the first US. Millionaire based on her company owning fourteen million dollars in assets in 1920. She was a mentor to Madame C.J. Walker and introduced her to the black hair care industry.

Lillian Lincoln Lambert

Lillian Lincoln Lambert (b.1940), was the first to receive a MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1969.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954) an American media proprietor and philanthropists, was the first to form and create her own television and film production company (Harpo Productions in 1986) and additionally was the first to become a billionaire.

Linda Johnson Rice

Linda Johnson Rice (b. 1958), was the first African American woman to be named Chief Executive Officer of a company listed among the top five of the Black Enterprise 100’s (the nation’s largest black-owned companies).

Ursula M. Burns

Ursula M. Burns (b. 1958), is the first African American female CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, Xerox in 2009.

Rosalind Brewer

Rosalind Brewer (b. 1962), was the first woman and the first African-American to hold a CEO position at one of Walmart, Inc.’s business units, Sam’s Club in 2012.

DaVita Vance Cook

DaVita Vance Cook (b. unknown), is the first appointed to lead the Government Printing Office. She was confirmed in 2014.


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