When thinking of influential and strong women, one cannot discount the drive and passion that Katie Couric has shown throughout her life. She has clawed her way to the top of the journalism world and has given many young women something to aspire to; showing them that it can be done. Through the years, Couric has been a co-host, correspondent and now a solo host on a night-time newscast.

Katie was born in Arlington, Virginia on January 7th, 1957 to mother Elinor Tullie and John Martin Couric. Her mother was a homemaker mostly, but still had her own career in mind with writing when she could find the time. Her father worked in public relations and was also a new editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Through her younger years, Couric was involved in her schools by being a cheerleader at her high school and then going on to join a sorority at the University of Virginia.

Most well known for her work on NBC’s Today from 1991 to 2006, she has since moved on to bigger deals. Since she left Today, she has become the solo anchor on CBS’s Evening News, is working as a correspondent for 60 Minutes and even has her own online Twitter blog. This makes her the first female solo anchor and also one of the most well versed, widely known, and highly successful female journalists in the world.