Before Shonda Rhimes, before Oprah, before Reese Witherspoon built media empires — there was Lucille Ball, blazing a trail that no woman in Hollywood had ever dared to walk.
In 1962, Lucille Ball did the unthinkable: she became the first woman to own and run a major television and film studio, Desilu Productions, after buying out her ex-husband Desi Arnaz. At a time when women were rarely allowed in executive rooms, Lucille took the top seat — and she ran it like a boss.
What did she do with that power? She greenlit some of the most legendary shows in TV history:
✅ Star Trek
✅ Mission: Impossible
✅ The Untouchables
That’s right — without Lucille Ball’s bold leadership, Star Trek might never have made it off the ground. Industry insiders laughed at the idea of a sci-fi show in prime time. Lucille didn’t. She believed in stories that pushed boundaries — because she had lived that story herself.
Running Desilu wasn’t just about business. It was about survival. After divorcing Desi, Lucille knew she had more to prove than ever. And she did — not by playing it safe, but by betting on creativity, innovation, and talent.
“She was underestimated her whole life,” said her daughter Lucie Arnaz in a recent tribute. “But she outworked everyone — and she made history doing it.”
Today, in a world where women are still fighting for power in Hollywood, Lucille Ball’s legacy feels more relevant than ever. She wasn’t just the queen of comedy — she was a CEO before anyone wanted to give her that title.
