In the 1920s, American women in particular were pushing the limits of convention and proving their mettle. Gertrude Ederle was one such pioneer. Ederle not only became the first woman to swim the English Channel, she became the fastest person to do so when she beat the existing men’s record. In a male dominated sport, Ederle proved that the fairer sex could sometimes be the faster sex.

When social entrepreneur Susan Bell first saw these unique handmade Mongolian crafts, she also recognized the country’s story of tradition and promise. The former marketing director and consultant knew she wanted to launch her own eco-friendly business with an emphasis on fair trade practices, but she simply could not find the right product.

What makes a businessman choose the overcrowded marketplace of online data backup services in which to dip his entrepreneurial toe? For Bob Chaput, owner of DataMountain LLC, it was a genuine desire to solve problems and help people.

Kori Barnum of the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division recently provided her insight for women who might be interested in pursuing forensics as a career.