Barbie and Ruth

rebel entrepreneur, unapologetic about ideas and methods that were outside accepted practice.

The Woman and the Doll

“We never entered any business the same way other people entered. We never copied people, ever,”

History is full of Ruth Handlers, magnificent entrepreneurs who disregarded or felt above the rules.

In one generation the Handlers went from poverty, fear, and repression to unimaginable wealth, comfort, and security

Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.

Toy Fair started, the media had ignored Ruth’s doll.

To avoid having their ideas stolen, Ruth never unveiled her products until Toy Fair.

She also used designs difficult for others to copy and

easy for Mattel to copyright.