businessperson
Works in trade
A businessperson is someone engaged in commercial or entrepreneurial activity—running a company, managing operations, or conducting trade.
The term emerged as a gender-neutral alternative to businessman and businesswoman: She's a savvy businessperson who built her company from nothing.
It sounds slightly formal; in casual speech, people often just say business owner or use the gendered forms.
Dominant industrial leader
- magnateWealthy business leader
- baronLow-ranking peer
- billionairePerson worth ten figures
- titanDominant figure in field
industrialist · plutocrat · kingpin · power-broker · dynasty · wealth · influence · philanthropist
New business enterprise
- founderOne who begins something
- self-employedWorking independently, not hired
- risk-takerOne who courts peril
- bootstrappingSelf-starting without external input
incubator · disruptor · solopreneur · crowdfunding · pivot · freelancer · co-founder · accelerator
Top corporate officer
- CFOTop corporate money officer
- COOTop operations executive
- chairmanHead of a board
- directorOne who leads
manager · board · oversight · strategy · C-suite · vice-president · leadership · decision-maker
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- agreementShared position between parties
- transactionExchange of goods/money
- partnershipShared business arrangement
handshake · terms · proposal · offer · bidding · closing · settlement · arbitration
Corporate decision venue
- shareholderEquity owner in corporation
- corporationLegally separate business entity
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
- headquartersCentral command location
subsidiary · conglomerate · dividend · revenue · profit · stakeholder · fiscal · quarterly
One who sells wares
- dealerOne who sells goods
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- wholesalerBulk goods middleman
- retailerOne who sells goods
importer · exporter · distributor · buyer · seller · middleman · commodities · marketplace
tycoon
Dominant industrial leader
- magnateWealthy business leader
- baronLow-ranking peer
- billionairePerson worth ten figures
titan · industrialist · plutocrat · kingpin · power-broker · dynasty · wealth · influence · philanthropist · self-made
startup
New business enterprise
- founderOne who begins something
- self-employedWorking independently, not hired
- risk-takerOne who courts peril
bootstrapping · incubator · disruptor · solopreneur · crowdfunding · pivot · freelancer · co-founder · accelerator · unicorn
CEO
Top corporate officer
director · manager · board · oversight · strategy · C-suite · vice-president · leadership · decision-maker · delegation
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- agreementShared position between parties
- transactionExchange of goods/money
partnership · handshake · terms · proposal · offer · bidding · closing · settlement · arbitration · compromise
boardroom
Corporate decision venue
- shareholderEquity owner in corporation
- corporationLegally separate business entity
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
headquarters · subsidiary · conglomerate · dividend · revenue · profit · stakeholder · fiscal · quarterly · fiduciary
merchant
One who sells wares
- dealerOne who sells goods
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- wholesalerBulk goods middleman
retailer · importer · exporter · distributor · buyer · seller · middleman · commodities · marketplace · inventory
businesspersonhobbyist
Recreational pursuer of interests
amateur · dilettante · enthusiast · volunteer · dabbler
businesspersoncivil servant
Government administration employee
government worker · public servant · bureaucrat · government official