Early education
Janet Emerson Bashen is the first African American woman to get a patent for a software invention. This means that no one else can use her idea for an invention without giving her credit for it.
Bashen went to college in Alabama, before moving to Houston, Texas, where she lives today. She has a degree in law and government from the University of Houston, and degrees from Rice University too. She also went to Harvard University where she studied ‘Woman and Power: Leadership in a New World’.
Bashen Corporation
In September 1994, she founded the Bashen Corporation, where she invented software to help manage people in companies. Bashen started the business from her home office. She only had a kitchen table to work on, no money, and one client to work for. Bashen worked hard and focused on being successful.
Bashen and her company are important in the U.S. for their achievements. Bashen also does a lot of work for the community, such as helping to fight racism in the business world.