Women's History Month: Honoring Women Who Are Building Legacy and Impact

This Women’s History Month, I wanted to do something more intentional.

In past years, I’ve highlighted the stories of women across industries—leaders I’ve admired and respected. This year, I chose to focus on something more personal by spotlighting three women I know—women whose impact is not only reflected in their success, but in the lives they’ve touched and the doors they’ve opened for others.

Each of these women is building, leading, and creating opportunity not just for themselves, but for the next generation. To me, that’s what this month is really about—taking a moment to recognize the women who are actively shaping what comes next.

Cherie Mathews

Cherie Mathews is a computer engineer, inventor, and technology strategist with R&D experience at IBM and special projects for NASA, focused on complex systems, AI strategy, and MedTech investment.

A 25-year breast cancer survivor and Founder & CEO of Healincomfort, she holds multiple patents and has helped more than 150,000 cancer patients recover with dignity, earning the Global Woman Inspiration Award. She has co-founded and advised multiple ventures and helped launch The First Tee National School Program, which now reaches more than 10 million students across the U.S.

For Cherie, Women’s History Month is about recognizing the courage, resilience, and innovation of women who have advanced science, healthcare, and entrepreneurship—often without recognition. She reflects on how those breakthroughs created opportunities for women like her to invent, lead, and build, while also reminding us of the responsibility to ensure the next generation of girls sees possibility instead of limitation.

Through founding Healincomfort and her global speaking platform, “Wake Up the Inventor in You,” Cherie has dedicated her work to empowering women to move their ideas beyond thought and into action. She focuses on building confidence, leadership skills, and access to opportunity, consistently encouraging women to see themselves as inventors, innovators, and leaders capable of creating meaningful global impact.

Elena Cardone

Elena Cardone is a powerhouse entrepreneur, best-selling author, and advocate for women, family, and financial freedom. Alongside her husband, she helped build Cardone Capital into a multi-billion-dollar real estate investment platform that empowers everyday individuals to create generational wealth.

Through her book Build an Empire: How to Have it All, her podcast The Elena Cardone Show, and her work with the Grant Cardone Foundation, she continues to champion financial education and expanded opportunity, particularly for underserved communities.

Elena views Women’s History Month as both a recognition of the past and a call to action in the present. She speaks to the importance of honoring the women who came before us by choosing to fully step into our own potential today.

Her work centers on helping women expand what they believe is possible. She challenges women to stop shrinking themselves in rooms, relationships, and opportunities, and instead step confidently into both ambition and purpose. She also emphasizes the importance of building strong families alongside successful businesses, sharing from her own experience that alignment—not competition—creates lasting strength. Her message is clear: women are capable of building powerful, full lives, but it starts with making the decision to do so.

Sharon Lechter

Sharon Lechter is an internationally recognized financial literacy expert, keynote speaker, and business mentor. A five-time New York Times bestselling author and former CPA with a 35-year career, she has advised two U.S. Presidents on financial literacy.

She is best known as the co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and for her work with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, where she helped re-energize foundational success principles through books like Think and Grow Rich for Women. Her continued work focuses on helping individuals—especially women—build financial confidence and long-term wealth.

Sharon sees Women’s History Month as a reminder that opportunity did not happen by accident, but was created by women who chose to lead. She emphasizes that recognizing their contributions also comes with a responsibility to equip future generations with the tools, confidence, and strategies they need to succeed.

Throughout her career, Sharon has focused on making financial education more accessible. Through her books, speaking engagements, and mentorship, she simplifies complex financial concepts so women feel confident managing, growing, and protecting their wealth.

Her work goes beyond inspiration, focusing on practical tools and real-world strategies that help women move from uncertainty to financial independence and ultimately create generational wealth.

A Final Reflection

Each of these women represents something that I deeply value—not just success, but intention in how they lead and how they give back.

They are building businesses, advancing industries, and creating opportunities, but what stands out most is how they are using their platforms to open doors for other women. They are not just creating impact in their own lives—they are actively shaping what is possible for others.

That, to me, is what Women’s History Month is about. It’s not only about celebrating accomplishments, but about recognizing the responsibility we all carry to continue building, leading, and investing in the next generation of women.

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