Determined to rise above her poor but proud upbringing, feisty New Englander Louise Randall (Rosalind Russell) attends business school and marries conservative banker Rodney Crane (Donald Woods). However, her take-charge personality and go-getter attitude causes the breakdown of their marriage. Despite ups and downs both in the growth of her business and the raising of her family with easygoing second husband Harold Pierson (Jack Carson), Louise perseveres in her attempts to build a better life.