Inc.’s annual Female Founders list celebrates the nation’s most innovative women entrepreneurs, who collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025
Minneapolis, MN—March 10, 2026—Bold Orange Company is proud to announce that Margaret Murphy, Founder & CEO, has been named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500, an annual list honoring the most dynamic women business leaders in the United States. The honor recognizes founders whose bold ideas, resilience, and execution are shaping the future of their industries.
Each year, Inc. editors evaluate applications through a rigorous, multi-round selection process. Founders are assessed on both quantitative performance metrics, including revenue growth, funding, sales, and audience size, as well as qualitative factors such as innovation, social impact, and brand momentum. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year. Previous honorees have included such game-changing leaders as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede — all of whom have transformed their industries and broken barriers along the way.
”"This recognition is so humbling. I have had the good fortune to learn from, and be inspired by, so many founders and entrepreneurs throughout my career that gave me the confidence and encouragement to be bold. This is a testament to why we all should take the time to guide and mentor others. I’m a product of those who took the time to make me better and stronger and I’m forever grateful for all of them."
Margaret MurphyFounder & CEO of Bold Orange
Honoree selection is also honed through the evaluation of the program’s advisory board, which includes Patty Arvielo, co-founder and CEO of New American Funding; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation; Joy Mangano, co-founder and CEO of CleanBoss; Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder and CEO of GORGIE; Sheila Lirio Marcelo, co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai and founder of Care.com; and Melissa Mash, co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover.
Since founding Bold Orange in 2017, Margaret Murphy has grown the business into a nationally recognized customer experience company. She built Bold Orange around a clear conviction: brands needed a better way to grow—one that puts customer experience at the center of how businesses operate.
That vision has since grown into a company trusted by leading enterprise organizations across industries.
Today, Bold Orange partners with leading brands to design and deliver data-driven, AI-enabled customer experiences that drive acquisition, engagement, and measurable growth. The company’s team now spans more than 20 states, bringing together strategy, data, creativity, and technology in a uniquely integrated model Murphy built years before the industry began talking about integration—breaking down the traditional silos of agencies and consultancies to solve complex enterprise challenges in a smarter, more connected way. Under her leadership, Bold Orange has achieved seven consecutive years of revenue growth and built long-standing client partnerships that have earned the company a Net Promoter Score of 90, reflecting the impact of a model designed to deliver real business results.
“Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “The honorees on this year’s list include innovators in AI, beauty and wellness trendsetters winning devoted fans, and nonprofit leaders making a real impact in their communities. Together, they’re showing all of us what trailblazing female leadership looks like.”
To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2026.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
About Bold Orange
Bold Orange is a leading customer experience company driving growth for brands by transforming how they connect with their customers. The company integrates data, strategy, creativity, and technology to architect and deliver personalized experiences at scale. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, with personnel in 20 states, the company has been nationally recognized for its business impact, enduring client relationships, and award-winning culture.