5 Growth Mindset Business Leaders You Can Learn From

Growth mindset in business isn’t just a buzzword, it’s how real entrepreneurs achieve lasting success.

These growth mindset business leaders didn’t start with everything figured out. They faced rejection, failure, and plenty of unknowns. But instead of quitting, they stayed open, flexible, and willing to fail forward. That’s the heart of a growth mindset — learning as you go, instead of waiting until everything feels perfectly planned.

If you need real-world proof that a growth mindset works, here are five powerful successful entrepreneurs with growth mindset who built success by leaning into challenges, not running from them.

Calm woman entrepreneur holding journal by window, quote overlay says: “Business growth starts with what you believe is possible.”

Why Growth Mindset Matters for Entrepreneurs

Your skills and business can grow, if you believe they can.

That’s the key difference between a growth mindset vs fixed mindset. A fixed mindset keeps you stuck, afraid to try, worried about failing, waiting for perfect conditions. It stops you before you even start.

A growth mindset helps you keep moving forward. You take action, even when you don’t have all the answers. You learn from mistakes. You adjust when things don’t go as planned. That’s how real business growth happens.

Every one of these growth mindset business leaders faced obstacles, but they kept learning, adjusting, and evolving. And that’s exactly why their businesses kept growing.

Want to build the same kind of mindset these women model? Here’s a 5-step plan to help you develop a growth mindset in your business, with clear habits you can start today.

Mindset Mastery Starter Kit for mom entrepreneurs featuring tools like Value Blueprint, Inner Voice Audit, Reframing Framework, and Energy Time Map. The kit helps transform self-doubt into business success, with a FREE label prominently displayed.

Feeling stuck in self-doubt & second-guessing your next step?

The Mindset Mastery Starter Kit helps
you reset your mindset and step into clarity, confidence and ease as a mom entrepreneur. Inside, you’ll find tools to shift negative thoughts, build a growth mindset, and move forward with intention.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE
STARTER KIT NOW !

5 Growth Mindset Business Leaders

Sara Blakely — Founder of Spanx

Sara Blakely started Spanx with no business, fashion, or retail background. She faced rejection from manufacturers and investors again and again. But instead of quitting, she used each “no” as valuable feedback, refining her pitch, improving her product, and adjusting her approach along the way.

She self-funded her business, learned as she went, and built Spanx into a billion-dollar brand, all by staying open, curious, and willing to keep learning. Her journey is one of the most powerful growth mindset examples in business.

Growth Mindset Lesson: Every rejection holds valuable feedback.

Melissa Butler — Founder of The Lip Bar

Melissa Butler pitched her business on Shark Tank and was told flat-out that her idea would never succeed. But instead of letting that public rejection shut her down, she stayed committed to her mission of creating inclusive beauty products for women of all skin tones.

She kept pivoting, refining, and building her brand, eventually landing major partnerships with retailers like Target. Today, The Lip Bar continues to grow, and Melissa remains a strong advocate for diversity and representation in the beauty industry. Her story is one of the most inspiring growth mindset examples in business for entrepreneurs navigating public failure.

Growth Mindset Lesson: Public failure is not personal failure.

Collage of 5 successful entrepreneurs with growth mindset who turned challenges into business success.

Toni Ko — Founder of NYX Cosm e tics

At just 25 years old, Toni Ko started NYX Cosmetics with $250K in savings from her family. She didn’t have experience in manufacturing, distribution, or running a global brand, but she was willing to figure it out step by step.

Through trial, learning, and constant problem-solving, Toni built NYX into a multimillion-dollar global brand, eventually selling it to L’Oréal. Even after selling, she continued launching new ventures, showing her deep commitment to continuous learning, growth, and evolving as an entrepreneur. Her story is a standout growth mindset example in business, proof that you don’t need everything figured out to succeed.

Growth Mindset Lesson: You don’t need to know everything to get started, learn as you go.

Lisa Price — Founder of Carol’s Daughter

Lisa Price started Carol’s Daughter as a side hustle, creating beauty products in her kitchen. In the early days, she faced limited funding and plenty of doubt from others who questioned whether her small business could grow.

Instead of rushing, she focused on slow, steady growth, building strong relationships with her customers and staying true to her mission. Over time, her persistence paid off, and she eventually sold Carol’s Daughter to L’Oréal while maintaining the heart and values of her brand. Lisa’s story is a powerful growth mindset example in business, especially for entrepreneurs starting small.

Growth Mindset Lesson: Small beginnings don’t limit your long-term potential.

Reshma Saujani — Founder of Girls W ho Code

Reshma Saujani lost her first political campaign, but she didn’t let that failure stop her. Instead, she shifted her focus and founded Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech and empowering young women to step into leadership and technology.

She continues to advocate for women and girls while speaking openly about the power of failing forward, embracing imperfection, and starting before you feel fully ready. Her journey is a standout growth mindset example in business, especially for entrepreneurs navigating setbacks and pivots.

Growth Mindset Lesson: Failure can redirect you to your true mission.

The real secret? They practiced daily habits that strengthened their mindset over time. If you’re ready to do the same, check out these 10 daily habits to build your growth mindset as an entrepreneur.

Key Growth Mindset Lessons from These Women

Here’s what these growth mindset business leaders show us:

Rejection is not the end, it’s often the beginning.
You don’t need everything figured out to start.
Public failure doesn’t define you.
Continuous learning leads to long-term business growth.
Small starts can lead to massive impact.

No one builds a successful business by avoiding failure or waiting until they feel fully ready. They build it by staying open, learning as they go, and trusting that growth happens step by step. That’s the true power of a growth mindset in business.

Smiling woman in a cozy sweater holds a mug labeled "MOMPRENEUR" while working on a laptop by a sunlit window. A leather journal, vase of lavender, and rustic wooden table create a calm, mindful workspace vibe—perfectly capturing the essence of entrepreneurship and intentional living.

Looking for real conversations and support as a mom entrepreneur?

Inside the Mindful Living for Entrepreneur Moms Facebook Group, you’ll find practical tools, gentle growth, and a community that gets it, no hustle culture, no judgment. Just real support as you build a business that fits your life.

YES, I NEED THIS GROUP!

Ready to Build Your Own Growth Mindset?

These growth mindset business leaders didn’t succeed because they avoided failure, they succeeded because they stayed open to growth. They kept learning, adjusting, and taking action, even when things felt uncertain.

You can develop the same growth mindset in business starting today.

Want to connect with other mom entrepreneurs who are building their growth mindset too? Join my free Mindful Living for Entrepreneur Moms Facebook group, where we talk business, mindset, and how to grow without burnout.