The Rising Economic Power of Women Business Owners in Tampa Bay

Women entrepreneurs in Tampa Bay are not a small subsection of the economy. They are central to the region’s current and future growth.

Recent analysis of U.S. Census data found that about 21 percent of businesses in the Tampa area are women owned, representing roughly 13,500 companies as of 2022. CURRENT+1 These firms are not only numerous. Together they generate an estimated 5 billion dollars in revenue and employ more than 85,000 workers in the area, a clear signal of their economic weight. CURRENT+1

On top of that, a Tampa Bay Business Journal list of 70 of the region’s largest women owned companies reported a combined 918 million dollars in revenue in 2024 and 2,730 employees. LinkedIn These are established, scaling firms that anchor jobs and investment across the metro.

A Region Leading on Women-Owned Business Growth

Nationally, women owned firms are growing faster than the overall business population. Across the United States, women owned employer firms now generate more than 2 trillion dollars in revenue and employ over 12 million workers. nwbc.gov

Tampa Bay stands out even within that trend. Wells Fargo’s 2025 “Impact of Women-Owned Businesses” report ranks the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metro among the top 10 large metros in the country for women-owned business economic clout and notes that the region led all 50 major metros with 18 percent growth in women-owned businesses between 2019 and 2023. St Pete Catalyst + Wells Fargo Small Business Center

This growth signals more women starting companies, building teams, and shaping the local economy across multiple sectors.

Transportation and Logistics: Women Steering Regional Systems

Transportation and logistics are core to Tampa Bay’s growth, from port activity to last-mile delivery and freight technology. Women leaders are visible in this space:

Transflo, a Tampa-based transportation software company, is led by CEO Renee Krug, recognized as SupplyTech Company CEO of the Year in 2024. transflo.com
CW Carriers USA, headquartered in Tampa, describes itself as a 100 percent woman owned and operated logistics company under CEO Lila Trkulja, with year-over-year growth focused on diversity and sustainability. cwcarriersusa.com
In medical logistics, Vanguard Medical Logistics is led by CEO Karen Betancourt, whose work in supply chain and logistics management is highlighted in national industry coverage. letstalksupplychain.com

These firms sit at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and regional mobility, showing how women leaders influence how goods and services move through Tampa Bay.

Healthcare: Women Leading a Regional Hub

Healthcare is one of Tampa Bay’s most important and fastest-growing sectors. Women hold key executive roles in organizations that shape care, jobs, and research:

At Tampa General Hospital, executive vice president and chief administrative officer Stacey Brandt has been recognized in Modern Healthcare’s 2024 class of Women Leaders for her strategic leadership. Tampa General Hospital
TGH’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Melissa Golombek leads operations across the health system, reinforcing women’s role in operational decision making. Florida Chamber of Commerce
In 2025, Sarah Frahn was appointed to head the TGH Women’s Institute and Muma Children’s Hospital, bringing more than 25 years of women’s and pediatric health leadership to a key regional institution. Tampa General Hospital

Combined, these leaders help drive Tampa Bay’s emergence as a healthcare and life sciences hub. Capital Analytics Associates

Education: Women Shaping the Talent Pipeline

Education leadership influences the region’s future workforce and innovation capacity.

The University of Tampa is welcoming its first female president, Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, in 2024. Her appointment marks a notable shift in leadership at one of the region’s anchor institutions. Bay News 9
Former Hillsborough County superintendent MaryEllen Elia has been recognized with a Woman in Leadership award and continues to contribute to education through her current role with Success for Students, Inc. WTSP

At the K-12 and higher-education levels, women leaders influence everything from curriculum and equity initiatives to partnerships with industry.

Business and Professional Services: Women Founders Driving Growth

Many of Tampa Bay’s women owned firms operate in professional services, creative industries, and specialized business support that other companies depend on.

Pyper, Inc., a St. Petersburg–based marketing agency, is recognized on the Tampa Bay Business Journal list of largest women owned businesses. pyperinc.com
ReEmployAbility, a return-to-work services company, ranks among the top women owned businesses in the region’s multi-county list, demonstrating women’s leadership in insurance and employment services. ReEmployAbility

The regional Small Business Development Center also reports that nearly half of its consulting clients are women, underscoring how many women are actively building and scaling firms. SBDC Tampa Bay

The Future of Tampa Bay Runs Through Women’s Leadership

Taken together, these data points and examples show more than representation. Women business owners and leaders in Tampa Bay are generating billions in revenue, employing tens of thousands of people, and holding key roles in transportation, healthcare, education, and business services.

As the region continues to diversify and grow, the trajectory of women entrepreneurs and women in leadership will be closely tied to Tampa Bay’s overall economic future. Supporting women led businesses and expanding pathways into leadership across sectors is not a side initiative. It is central to the region’s long term stability, innovation, and shared prosperity.

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