Arianna Huffington – The woman behind The Huffington Post

Women in business have always been an inspiration, especially those who have become successful in their enterprises. Arianna Huffington is one such woman. The 64-year-old is the chair, president, and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group; a nationally syndicated columnist; and the author of 14 books. In May 2005, she launched the now thriving Huffington Post, a news and blog site, that fast became one of the most widely-read and referred-to media platforms on the Internet in less than a decade.

Arianna has been on a winning streak so far. In 2009, she was cited as number 12 on Forbes' first-ever list of the “Most Influential Women in Media”. She has also moved up to number 42 in The Guardian's “Top 100 in Media” list. And in 2012, a writer from The Huffington Post went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for the site, making it the first commercially run U.S. digital media venture to win the coveted award. Arianna was also listed as number 56 on Forbes’ list of the “Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2013 last year.

In 2011, AOL, the American mass-media multinational, acquired The Huffington Post for $315 million and gave Arianna her current positions at The Huffington Post Media Group, which umbrellas The Huffington Post.

Originally from Greece; Arianna moved to England when she was 16 years old, later graduating from Cambridge University with a Masters degree in Economics and at the age of 21, she became president of the well-known debating society, the Cambridge Union. Arianna was born Ariánna Stasinopoulos and met her now ex-husband Michael Huffington, from who she got her current name, in 1985 but they later divorced in 1997.

Arianna has been a key voice in journalism and politics since her career began in 1973 with the publishing of her first book, “The Female Woman”, attacking the Women's Liberation movement, and there’s no sign that she is going to be backing down soon. The Huffington Post might just be the pinnacle of Arianna’s career and has become one of the most notable and reliable online publications with pieces from bloggers and specialists that are insightful and often fascinating.