4 Women Leading The Creator Economy Right Now

The creator economy has exploded into a global powerhouse worth over $250 billion in 2025, per Forbes, and women aren’t leading the charts. According to The Wrapped, with nearly two out of three content creators being women and payments to creators increasing by 79% compared to 2024, the industry has never been more dynamic or influential.

What makes this moment particularly significant is how women are transforming the creator economy from a collection of individual influencers into a sophisticated business ecosystem. They’re building media networks, launching product lines, pioneering new platforms, and using their influence to drive social change. The future of digital media is women, and these four women are proving it.

Women make up approximately 64% of content creators globally, and on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, nearly four out of five influencers are women. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about impact. Women creators consistently drive higher engagement rates and build deeper connections with their audiences. They turn followers into communities and communities into customers.

The shift represents more than popularity. Women creators have pioneered direct monetization strategies, moving beyond traditional advertising to build sustainable businesses through subscriptions, product lines, courses, and brand partnerships. They’ve illustrated that authenticity and trust translate directly into economic power.

Alex Cooper hosts “Call Her Daddy,” earning $20 million per year as Spotify’s highest-paid woman podcaster and the platform’s second most popular podcast globally in 2024. Although Alex’s impact extends far beyond her microphone. In 2025, she transformed her brand into a full-scale media company.

The Unwell Network added several new shows to its roster, partnered with the National Women’s Soccer League for its beverage product Unwell Hydration, and launched Unwell Creative Agency to handle brand partnerships. She also secured a major partnership with Google and expanded onto SiriusXM with two exclusive channels. Alex exemplifies how top creators are thinking beyond content to build lasting media businesses.

Sara Kehaulani Goo was named President of The Washington Post’s Creator Network in August 2025, returning to the organization after serving as Editor-in-Chief at Axios. Her appointment represents a watershed moment, a major legacy media organization acknowledging that the future requires embracing creator-driven storytelling.

The Creator Network will focus on building personality-driven content and franchises in topic areas of interest to target audiences, operating independently from the traditional newsroom. Sara’s leadership demonstrates how women are pioneering the fusion of traditional journalism’s credibility with the creator economy’s engagement and reach.

In July 2025, Prajakta Koli became the first Indian content creator featured on the TIME100 Creators list. She has accomplished 7.3 million YouTube subscribers and 8.7 million additional Instagram followers. Known as MostlySane, Prajakta has built her influence through comedic sketches about Indian traditions and family dynamics.

However, Prajakta’s impact extends beyond entertainment. She serves as UNDP India’s first Youth Climate Champion and has collaborated with the UN, World Economic Forum, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2025, she published her debut novel and starred in Netflix’s Mismatched. Prajakta represents how creators from emerging markets are gaining global recognition while using their platforms for social change.

Emma Chamberlain commands massive influence with over 12 million YouTube subscribers and cultural relevance, monetizing her brand through Chamberlain Coffee, high-profile fashion partnerships, podcasts, and merchandise. She’s transformed from a teenage YouTuber into a legitimate business leader whose ventures span multiple industries.

Emma’s success lies in her ability to maintain authenticity while scaling her brand. She’s proven that creators can build substantial businesses without losing the personal connection that made them successful in the first place.