7 Inspiring Entrepreneurs Who Beat the Odds

Updated 6/19/2020

These entrepreneurs are a great reminder that where you are today doesn't dictate where you'll be in the future.

It's easy to feel down about a career setback—and all of us have them. But, as a reminder that where we are today doesn't dictate where we can go from here, we pulled together a list of amazing entrepreneurs who've experienced hardships that might surprise you.

1. Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox

Image courtesy of Fortune Live Media

2. Larry Ellison, CEO and Co-Founder of Oracle

Image courtesy of Oracle

3. Guy Laliberte, Founder and CEO of Cirque Du Soleil

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

4. Li Ka-shing, Chairman of Hutchison Whampoa Limited and Cheung Kong Holdings and the Richest Person in Greater China

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

5. Lloyd Blankfein, CEO and Chairman of Goldman Sachs

Image courtesy of Fortune Live Media

6. Oprah Winfrey, Media Mogul and Entrepreneur

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

7. Steve Jobs, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple

Image courtesy of Ben Stanfield

Sources: Businessweek, Wikipedia, Huffington Post, and Discovery.

As Social Media and Community Manager, Brooke is intrigued by (okay, obsessed with) all things social. She has been Musing since right after she graduated from Smith College, beginning first as an intern. When Brooke isn’t conjuring up new Tweets, she can be found trying out new foods, wishing she had a Boston Terrier, and Instagramming. Say hi on Twitter @beetorr.