Madam C. J. Walker

Walker's expertise was hair care for Black women, a market white-owned companies ignored. Having suffered hair loss herself and worked as an agent for Annie Turnbo Malone, she developed her own scalp treatment and the Walker system of washing, ointment and heated combs. The knowledge was spread through training: thousands of Walker agents learned to use and sell the products, giving many Black women an independent income. Her company made her one of the richest Black women of her time.