Rebecca Clunes

Rebecca Lukens (née Rebecca Webb Pennock) was an American businesswoman recognized as the first female CEO of an industrial company, taking over the Brandywine Iron Works and Nail Factory in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, after her husband's death in 1825.[1][2][3] She successfully managed the iron and steel mill for over 25 years, pioneering boilerplate manufacturing for steamships and expanding operations despite challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry.[2][3][4] Her leadership laid the foundation for the Lukens Steel Company, the longest continuously running steel site in the US.[3]