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To celebrate Women’s History month, we’re proud to share our Top 100 Inspirational Women 2023 Magazine, where we showcase exceptional women from across the globe.
Narrowing down the greatest women on the planet to create a 100-person list is no small feat. Through these pages, you’ll find a diverse collection of women, who have created a name for themselves, simply by being exceptional at what they do.
Our list includes women from a variety of sectors, from supply chain and procurement to music and entertainment, to reflect the number of industries positively impacted by women. We hope you’ll recognise familiar faces such as Rosalind Brewer and Taylor Swift, while learning new names of those you may not be familiar with yet.
So, please join us on our journey of celebrating the achievements of women, by shining a spotlight on 100 women who have made phenomenal impacts on the business world.
LUCY BUCHHOLZ
lucy.buchholz@bizclikmedia.com
https://twitter.com/lehmann_alisha?lang=en
Alisha Lehmann is a professional footballer from Switzerland who plays as a forward for the West Ham United's women's team and the Switzerland national team. Alisha began her career playing for FC Lucerne and quickly made a name for herself with her impressive speed, technique, and goalscoring ability. She signed with West Ham United in 2018 and has since become a key player for the team, helping them reach the Women's FA Cup final in 2019. Alisha is also known for her active presence on social media and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and equality in sports.
instagram.com/crissa_acehttps://www. /?hl=en
Basketball player and YouTuber Crissa Jackson has built a significant following on social media platforms, where she shares highlights of her basketball games, training tips, and behind-thescenes glimpses of her life as an athlete. Crissa has also used her platform to advocate for social justice issues, promoting equality and diversity in sports. She has played college basketball for several teams, including the University of Toledo and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and currently plays professionally overseas.
https://www.instagram.com/alexmorgan13/?hl=en
Bringing fans to their feet by scoring big goals, Alex Morgan has become a well-loved star both on and off the field. During the 2011 World Cup, Alex was the youngest player on the team – at just 22 years old – and scored in the semi-final against France and in the final against Japan. She has since continued her career, winning a gold medal in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Alex and her US teammates have tirelessly fought for equal pay in women’s soccer, becoming the first women’s football team in the world to achieve the milestone.
OCCAMSEC
linkedin.com/in/emurthahttps://www. / Erin Murtha is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at OccamSec, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions. Erin is based in New York and brings a wealth of experience to her role, having previously worked at General Dynamics Information Technology as a Senior Agile Business Process Analyst. At OccamSec, she oversees the dayto-day operations of the company and works closely with the team to provide information security services that exceed industry standards. Erin is a valuable asset to the OccamSec team and is dedicated to providing the best possible cybersecurity solutions to their clients.
https://www.instagram.com/pvsindhu1/?hl=en
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, commonly known as PV Sindhu, is a professional badminton player from India. PV started playing badminton at the age of eight years old and made her international debut in 2009, since winning numerous accolades – including a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. PV is known for her powerful smashes, excellent footwork, and relentless fighting spirit on the court. She is widely regarded as one of India's greatest badminton players and a role model for young athletes.
95
linkedin.com/in/pamdiazsecurityfirstceohttps://www. /
Pamela Diaz, the CEO and President of Entara, is a leader who believes in the growth and development of her employees. At Entara, she leads a team of professionals who provide strategic security and IT solutions to clients. Pamela is also the co-founder of Forecheck, an automated incident management, remediation, and resilience platform aimed at protecting clients' systems. She is also a strong advocate for mentorship and empowerment of women, as seen through her involvement with the Female Integrator Mastermind. Pamela is a successful and inspiring leader who values growth and empowerment in both her personal and professional life.
https://www.instagram.com/rondarousey/?hl=en
Former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler Ronda Rousey began her athletic career as a judoka, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics. She later transitioned to MMA, becoming the first-ever UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion in 2012. Rousey's fighting style and dominant performances earned her a massive following and she became a trailblazer for women in combat sports. In 2018, Rousey made the move to professional wrestling, joining WWE and quickly becoming a top star. She is considered one of the most influential and successful female athletes of all time.
https://www.instagram.com/ simonebiles/?hl=en
As America’s most decorated female gymnast (with a staggering collection of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals combined) Simone Biles is widely celebrated as one of the most successful gymnasts of all time. In 2007, Simone began competing as a level 8 gymnast. As the years passed, her success followed, and she delivered countless show-stopping performances. The powerhouse athlete gained a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games and dominated the scoreboards, winning individual gold in the all-around, vault, and floor; a bronze on the balance beam; and gold with her team named the ‘Final Five’.
https://www.instagram.com/zendaya/?hl=en
Zendaya Coleman is an American actress, singer, and fashion model. She first rose to prominence as a child actress in the Disney Channel series ‘Shake It Up’. Since then, she has starred in a number of successful films and television series, including ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and the HBO series ‘Euphoria’, for which she won an Emmy Award. In addition to her acting career, Zendaya is a talented singer, having released several singles and music videos. She is an advocate for various social and political causes, including racial justice and education reform.
https://www.instagram. com/mirzasaniar/?hl=en
Professional tennis player Sania Mirza is known for her impressive performances in women's doubles and mixed doubles. She is the most successful female tennis player in Indian history, having won multiple Grand Slam titles, including three in mixed doubles. Sania is also a former world number one in women's doubles and has represented India in numerous international competitions, including the Olympics. In addition to her success on the court, Sania is also an advocate for women's rights and empowerment, using her platform to raise awareness about gender inequality and promote girls' education in India.
instagram.com/gigihadidhttps://www. /?hl=en
Gigi Hadid is known for her groundbreaking shoots, charismatic personality, and social media presence. She has graced the covers of top fashion magazines, including Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar, and has walked the runway for major fashion designers, such as Chanel, Versace and Marc Jacobs. Gigi is also a television personality, having appeared on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ and ‘Project Runway’. In addition to her modelling and television career, she advocates mental health awareness and uses her platform to raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes.
Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot rose to international fame for her role as Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films. Prior to her acting career, she served in the Israel Defense Forces and worked as a professional model. Gadot has received critical acclaim for her performances in films such as ‘Fast & Furious’ and ‘Wonder Woman’, and has been recognised for her beauty and fashion sense. In addition to her acting career, Gal is an advocate for gender equality and social justice, using her platform to raise awareness about important issues. She is also a mother and family-oriented individual.
https://www.instagram. com/gal_gadot/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/
linkedin.com/in/stephanie-troester-2342592https://www.
Japanese-Haitian-American tennis player Naomi Osaka has quickly risen to become one of the best players in the world. She has won multiple Grand Slam titles, including the US Open and Australian Open, and has been ranked as the world number 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association. Naomi is known for her powerful baseline game, mental toughness, and activism. She has used her platform to raise awareness about social issues such as police brutality, mental health, and racial inequality. She has also been recognised for her talent and influence, being named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.
Stephanie Troester is a highly respected transformation and technology leader with over 20 years of experience in multinational, multicultural environments. Currently serving as Group SVP and Global IT Head at The Adecco Group, she is known for her strategic thinking and drive to achieve business goals. Stephanie has a proven track record of enabling IT capabilities in key functional areas, with a passion for developing high-performing, diverse teams with a growth mindset. Her focus on making IT a true business partner has produced significant business value and she is recognised for her executive acumen, global and country experience, and operational improvements.
https://www.instagram.com/priyankachopra/?hl=en
Priyanka Chopra is a multi-talented actress, singer, and philanthropist from India who has achieved global recognition for her work. She started her career in Bollywood and won critical acclaim for her performances in films like ‘Fashion’ and ‘Barfi!’. She then transitioned into Hollywood and starred in the hit TV series ‘Quantico’, as well as films like ‘Baywatch’ and ‘Isn't It Romantic’. Chopra has won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Actress, and has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. Beyond her entertainment career, Chopra is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actively supports causes like education and women's rights.
linkedin.com/in/katiehanahanhttps://www. / Katie Hanahan is an accomplished CISO and Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy with a diverse range of skills and expertise. With extensive experience in information technology, team leadership, vulnerability assessment, and vendor management, Katie has played a vital role in the success of ITsavvy, a leading IT provider specialising in advanced IT solutions. Katie is a respected speaker and board member, with expertise in healthcare, cybersecurity, business alliances, and organisational leadership. She is a skilled mentor and team leader who values cross-functional collaboration, encouraging a culture of innovation and creativity.
linkedin.com/in/indranooyihttps://www. /
After growing up in India, Indra Nooyi obtained an MBA from Yale University. She then went on to spend six years at the Boston Consulting Group and later held executive positions at Motorola, Inc and Asea Brown Boveri. In 1994, Indra started as PepsiCo’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development, moving to become President and Chief Financial Officer in 2001. In 2006, she became PepsiCo’s first female CEO – and one of only 11 female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies at that time. Under her leadership, the company revenue increased from US$35bn in 2006 to US$63.5bn in 2017.
https://www.instagram.com/selenagomez/
Ex-Disney star Selena Gomez is a multi-talented entertainer who has achieved remarkable success in her career. Starting as a child actor in the popular Disney series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’, she transitioned into music and has released several hit albums, including ‘Revival’ and ‘Rare’. Beyond her entertainment career, Selena is an active philanthropist, supporting causes such as mental health awareness and the fight against lupus. She is also the founder of the beauty brand Rare Beauty, which features inclusive products and packaging.
https://www.instagram.com/mariasharapova/?hl=en
Maria Sharapova is a retired professional tennis player from Russia who’s widely considered as one of the greatest tennis players of her generation. She burst onto the scene in 2004 at the age of 17, winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. Maria went on to win four more Grand Slam titles, including the French Open twice, and was a former world number one player. She’s known for her fierce competitive spirit and powerful groundstrokes. Off the court, Maria is an entrepreneur, having launched her own candy line and investing in startups.
https://www.instagram.com/arianagrande/?hl=en
Pop icon Ariana Grande is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who first gained recognition for her role on the Nickelodeon television series ‘Victorious’. Her music career began with the release of her debut album ‘Yours Truly’ in 2013, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Since then, she has released several chart-topping albums, including ‘Thank U, Next’ and ‘Positions’. With her powerful vocal range, distinctive style, and catchy pop hooks, Ariana has become one of the best-selling music artists of all time while also being involved in philanthropic efforts.
https://www.instagram.com/serenawilliams/?hl=en
Serena Williams is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with a career spanning over two decades. She has won a total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era. Her dominance in the sport is highlighted by her 319 weeks spent as the world’s number 1 in singles rankings. Off the court, Serena has been a powerful advocate for women's rights, racial equality, and social justice. She founded the Serena Williams Fund – which supports education and empowerment initiatives – and has spoken out on issues ranging from police brutality to gender pay equity.
AU10TIX
linkedin.com/in/sara-shekel-a1b70016https://www. /
Sara Shekel serves as the Chief Delivery Officer at AU10TIX, where she brings over 20 years of experience in project delivery to the growing yet challenging industry. As a delivery leader, she has a wide range of expertise and has demonstrated proven results year after year. She is known for her out-of-the-box thinking and innovative approach to solving complex problems. Additionally, she has extensive experience in software development life cycles, with the ability to build effective teams and partnerships around the globe to ensure successful project delivery and customer satisfaction.
linkedin.com/in/subha-t-45a133https://www. /
Currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer at Wipro Limited, Subha Tatavarti resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a Governing Board Member for OpenSSF. Prior to these roles, she spent over 10 years at PayPal where she held various positions, including Head of Product, Data Platform & Infrastructure. In this role, she led the platform transformation journey, moving from a siloed, service-oriented group to building scalable, API-driven, interoperable platforms. She was responsible for driving the product and strategy for Data Platforms at PayPal.
Sapna Alva Tariyal serves as the Chief Procurement Officer for Asia Pacific at Capgemini. She has accumulated 24 years of experience in Sourcing, Vendor Governance, and Supplier Management, coupled with her expertise in People Management at various levels and Stakeholder engagement across geographies. She believes in leading by example and taking delight in team development. Sapna's procurement experience covers all categories locally, including IT & Telco, Business Services, People and Professional Services. She has collaborated across different global cultures, providing support to Global and APEA Teams in various critical initiatives.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/sweathadonkada
Sweatha Donkada is an Executive Director and Distinguished Engineer at UBS, with over 14 years of experience in data, advanced analytics, and IT delivery and management. She is a technical and people leader, recognised as a role model for advancing engineering culture and practices, and has been awarded the title of Distinguished Engineer. Sweatha is also a trusted advisor to executive leadership in technology strategy. She received her Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of ESG COGNIZANT
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/sophia-leonora-mendelsohn-83b6613/
As the Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of ESG at Cognizant, Sophia Leonora Mendelsohn drives organisational transformation and balances immediate financial goals with long-term sustainability and ESG governance for business viability. Sophia is a futurist who is focused on developing business models that support a new low-carbon, circular economy. She holds a degree from Harvard University and has previously served as the Chief Sustainability Officer at JetBlue Airways.
linkedin.com/in/velislava-ivanova-8486b215https://www. /
Velislava Ivanova is the Americas’ Chief Sustainability Officer and Climate Change & Sustainability Services Leader at EY, bringing over 25 years of international experience in developing and implementing sustainability strategies. With a proven track record in guiding senior executives to set sustainability goals and improve business performance, she has managed environmental programmes for private, IFI, and governmental clients. Velislava has led professional practices and teams in several global consulting companies, and is committed to being an inclusive leader, developing diverse talent, and innovative ESG solutions for a low-carbon, circular economy.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/florencet/
As a well-known business leader, Florence TinsleyRoy has extensive experience in procurement and global sourcing. She is currently the Global Chief Procurement Officer at PwC and is an expert in transforming procurement teams, developing global strategies, and change management. She specialises in procurement transformation, thought leadership, strategic sourcing, category strategy and cost management. Her expertise in offshoring, outsourcing, negotiations, and vendor management has made her a valuable asset to many companies. Florence graduated from the University of Birmingham and has been recognised for her leadership and innovation in procurement. She is a sought-after speaker and mentor in the industry.
instagram.com/taylorswifthttps://www. /?hl=en
As one of the most influential women to ever grace the music industry, Taylor Swift has achieved remarkable success over the course of her career. With over 200 million record sales worldwide, she has won numerous awards –including 11 Grammy Awards – and has been named Billboard's Woman of the Decade. Taylor is known for her ability to connect with fans through her music and her fearless approach to speaking out on issues such as mental health and women's rights. She is also a savvy businesswoman and is currently in the process of re-recording her old albums to ensure her music can “live on” after her former record label was sold.
VISA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessacolella/
Vanessa Colella is an accomplished businesswoman and innovation leader currently serving as Visa's Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships. With her extensive experience leading product development and innovation at companies such as Citi, Yahoo, and McKinsey & Company, Vanessa has helped shape the future of the financial industry. She has been recognised for her exceptional leadership and innovation skills, winning several prestigious awards such as the BIG Innovation Award and the Silver Stevie Award. Vanessa is also an active member of various boards, including the National Venture Capital Association and La Scuola International School in San Francisco.
https://www.instagram.com/beyonce/
Music legend Beyoncé has successfully built an empire that extends beyond her music career. She has demonstrated her business acumen by creating her own management company, Parkwood Entertainment, which oversees her music, tours, and merchandise. She has also invested in numerous other ventures, including the streaming platform Tidal, the clothing line Ivy Park, and the beverage company WTRMLN WTR. Beyoncé's strategic partnerships with brands such as Adidas, Pepsi, and L'Oréal have also been highly successful. She has proven herself to be a savvy entrepreneur by constantly expanding her brand and diversifying her revenue streams, solidifying her status as a force in the entertainment industry.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ jadee-hanson-668225b/
Jadee is the current CIO and CISO at Code42, a leading cybersecurity software company, where she oversees enterprise security and technology strategy. In her five years at the company, she has transformed the security division into a revenuedriving business enabler by utilising right-sized technology to attract new customers. She has also increased the company's cyber detection, response, and recovery capabilities by 90% and helped teams adopt right-sized risk management practices, elevating the importance of security within the organisation. Jadee's expertise in cloud conversion has streamlined Code42's corporate technology infrastructure, resulting in more than US$1.2mn in SaaS-based spending reductions.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-england-67069b5/
Rhonda England, a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, currently holds the position of Global Chief Procurement Officer at Deloitte and she resides in McKinney, Texas, in the United States. Before her role at Deloitte, she served as VP of Procurement for JCPenney, which promotes an inclusive environment and culture that enables individuals to discover and establish their unique style, purpose, and career path. Rhonda graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Retail.
Isabel Jimeno Fernández, an innovative and impressive leader in her field, currently holds the position of CIO at Corporacion en Banco Santander. She has served in this role for nearly eight years and is based in Madrid, Spain. Prior to joining Santander, Isabel was the Directora Infraestructuras at Produban and held the role of CIO at Vodafone. Isabel's background in technology is reflected in her academic achievements, which include an MSc from CUA University in Washington DC and a first degree from the Universidad Complutense, Licenciada en Fisicas. Isabel is known for her dynamic decision-making abilities and skilled negotiating techniques.
AON
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianslyfield
Jillian Slyfield is the Digital Economy Practice Leader at Aon. Her role focuses on addressing digital disruption in traditional industries and the on-demand economy, with a particular emphasis on Mobility as a Service, the Future of Work, and Platform marketplaces. Jillian leverages Aon's market leadership, technology platforms, and deep analytics capabilities to benefit clients. She has received several awards, including the 2017 Business Insurance Women to Watch award and the 2018 Risk and Insurance Power Broker award. Jillian is also a member of Aon's Diversity and Inclusion Board.
KYLIE COSMETICS
https://www. instagram.com/kyliejenner/
Kylie Jenner launched her brand, Kylie Cosmetics, in 2015, initially featuring a line of lip kits but since expanding to a full range of makeup and skincare products. She leveraged her social media following to promote her products, and her brand quickly became a huge success, generating over US$400mn in revenue. Kylie has been praised for her marketing and branding strategies, including limited edition collections and collaborations with other celebrities. She also demonstrated her business acumen by selling a majority stake in her company to Coty Inc. for US$600mn, valuing the brand at over US$1bn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneta-kolankowska-69372a2
As the CIO of BNP Paribas, Aneta Kolankowska emphasises the importance of hybrid working, allowing employees to work remotely for a portion of their work week. This approach was implemented prior to COVID-19 to support worklife balance. Aneta previously held leadership roles at Credit Suisse, including Head of Supplier, PMO and Service Management, and Head of IT for Suisse Universal Bank in Poland.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/poornima-debolle-b0428/
As an Official Member of the Forbes Technology Council, Poornima DeBolle specialises in network and security architecture, managing engineering and technical groups, defining products, and evaluating industries, companies, and products for mergers and partnerships. Poornima is also the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Menlo Security Inc., where she utilises her skills in product management, business development, and entrepreneurship to drive the company's success. Poornima is based in Los Altos, California and graduated from Arizona State University with a master's degree in Computer Science.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybyrnenyc/
As the COO at Immuta, Mary Byrne brings her experience in launching and growing tech startups to established companies that need to pivot for sustained growth. Her expertise spans from sales and marketing to product development and operations. She takes a hands-on approach to identify what works, optimising infrastructure, positioning products and services, and exceeding sales targets. Her management style emphasises collaboration and ensuring the team has fun while delivering results. She specialises in building a company culture that nurtures growth for companies of all sizes.
https://www.instagram.com/alakijaofficial/?hl=en
Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist Folorunsho Alakija began her career in the fashion industry as the founder of a fashion label before transitioning to the oil and gas sector. Folorunsho is now the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company that holds a 60% stake in an offshore oil block in Nigeria. According to Forbes, Folorunsho is one of the richest women in Africa and has been involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives in Nigeria, including supporting widows and orphans through her Rose of Sharon Foundation. She has also established a vocational training centre for young women.
instagram.com/sarablakelyhttps://www. /?hl=en
Sara Blakely is a self-made billionaire and Founder of popular shapewear brand Spanx. After failing to find suitable undergarments to wear under a pair of white trousers, Sara cut off the feet of her tights and created her first prototype. She invested her life savings to create and market her invention and, after facing rejection from multiple manufacturers, eventually secured a deal with a hosiery mill. Sara's Spanx became an instant success, and she has since expanded the brand to include a variety of apparel, too. Now, she is lauded for her unconventional approach to business and her commitment to empowering women.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/yolande-piazza-b766903/
Yolande Piazza, a Board of Directors member at H&R Block, is now the VP of Financial Services at Google Cloud. She is excited to be part of Google Cloud during a critical time, with cloud technology playing a significant role in the financial services industry, helping them innovate and serve customers in new, improved ways. Yolande enjoys working with clients worldwide and looks forward to helping businesses begin their journey of transformation. Previously, she served as the CEO of Citi FinTech before joining Google.
Hanna Hennig serves as the Chief Information Officer at Siemens AG, having previously held the same position at OSRAM. OSRAM, a Munich-based high-tech company with over a century of history, specialises in semiconductor-based technologies used in various applications, from virtual reality to smart lighting solutions. During her time at OSRAM, Hanna gained experience in managing and optimising the IT operations of a leading global company. Additionally, she was a member of the board at E.ON Business Services GmbH, further demonstrating her expertise in overseeing technology and business services at a senior level.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
https://www.linkedin.com/
As the Chief Technology Officer and Global Vice President of Technology Services at Johnson & Johnson, Rowena Yeo oversees the global technology services organisation, delivering infrastructure, application support, development, and technology services to J&J's businesses and functions. In this role, she is responsible for technology architecture as well as the delivery of technology innovation and operational excellence to enable digital transformation. Additionally, she serves as Vice President and CIO Asia Pacific at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, responsible for the technology direction of the pharmaceutical group in the region, on top of developing and implementing effective IT strategies to support business objectives.
HSBC
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/ghinwa-baradhi-9881355/
Ghinwa Baradhi is an experienced senior executive in the financial services industry, having served in various change management and operational roles for 25 years. She is highly skilled in developing innovative solutions to reduce costs and improve efficiency across different areas of the business, while also aligning IT strategies with overall business goals. Ghinwa has successfully led international, multi-disciplined, virtual teams across both IT and business functions, and is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. She is a member of several advisory boards and committees, including the UAE Banks Federation IT Committee and the Technical Advisory Board of Nodes Agency.
One of Sheryl Sandberg’s greatest career successes was her tenure as the COO of Meta, where she was responsible for the company's global operations and revenue growth. Under her leadership, Meta’s revenue grew exponentially, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world. Sheryl was also instrumental in developing Meta’s advertising strategy, which has become a key revenue driver for the company. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. Sheryl left her role at Meta in March 2023 to focus on her role as Chairperson at LeanIn.org.
linkedin.com/in/alisa-cl-choong-73915489https://www. /
Alisa Choong currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Information & Digital Services and Operations at Shell Information Technology International. Her career has taken her from Certified Practising Accountant to Management Consultant to Transformation Leader, culminating in her current position as CIO. As the CIO of Projects and Technology at Shell, Alisa's focus is to embed digital into the business strategy and drive the replication of digital capabilities to unlock business value. She partners with senior stakeholders to establish a strong IT digital backbone across the global footprint of the business, ensuring secure IT operations.
https://www.instagram.com/
Socialite Kim Kardashian is widely recognised as a successful businesswoman and has built a multimillion-dollar empire through her entrepreneurial endeavours in fashion, beauty and entertainment. Kim's influence is undeniable, with millions of followers on social media and her ability to leverage her fame to build brands has being impressive. She has launched successful clothing lines, makeup, and fragrance collections – and even a mobile game that has been downloaded millions of times. Kim's business acumen has also been recognised by Forbes, which included her on its list of ‘America's Richest Self-Made Women’ in 2021.
linkedin.com/in/penelope-prett-9a57262https://www. /
As the Chief Information, Data & Analytics Officer at Accenture, Penelope Prett leads the company's global IT operations, overseeing the infrastructure, services, and applications that enable Accenture's employees to serve clients in over 120 countries. Her goal is to inspire innovation and technological advancement within the global IT organisation, specifically in areas such as digital experience, intelligent technology operations, and enterprise applied intelligence. Penelope also takes responsibility for maintaining relationships with Accenture's primary ecosystem partners. With nearly 30 years of experience at Accenture, she has held various leadership positions and managed large transformation programmes.
Procurement Officer NIKE
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-gurevich-b66b10/
Natasha Gurevich is the Chief Procurement Officer at Nike and possesses over 22 years of experience in logistics, supply chain, strategic sourcing, and procurement with leading Fortune 500 companies. She has a proven track record of achieving significant cost reductions and implementing continuous improvement initiatives through the management of crossfunctional teams. Natasha has extensive knowledge of procurement processes, project management, contract negotiations, and systems integration. Her most significant contributions to her employers have been through leading cross-functional teams and implementing processes resulting in cost reductions, risk mitigation, and technology adoption.
linkedin.com/in/severine-thery-bb637554https://www. /
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/alexandra-lopez-408b92/
Alexandra Lopez – who graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles – currently holds the position of SVP and Chief Procurement Officer at Cisco, which is located in Portola Valley, California. She has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Women in Procurement. Prior to her current role, she served as the Chief Procurement Officer and VP of Global Procurement, as well as the Vice President of Global Business Services at Cisco. She also worked at Hewlett-Packard for almost a decade, holding the position of Director of Global Supply Chain Services.
Severine Thery is a procurement specialist with over 20 years of experience in direct sourcing, including raw materials, packaging, and contract manufacturing. Self-motivated and driven by results, she is focused on meeting stakeholder needs. Severine possesses a unique skill-set that includes transversal and systems-wide thinking, as well as the ability to engage across the entire value chain and with all functional disciplines, including R&D, manufacturing/supply chain, brand marketing, and finance. She excels at interfacing efficiently with suppliers and departments to develop and implement new ideas in a collaborative mindset.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-lascaris-42268a/
As the Global Procurement Director of Ingredients and Seasonings at PepsiCo, Christina Lascaris is an expert in procurement across various market segments. With a strong background in transforming indirect organisations, she has developed sourcing strategies, implemented P2P processes, and improved procurement productivity. Additionally, she has experience in due diligence, change management, and process optimisation. Her leadership and networking skills have been strengthened through leading multicultural teams across different departments and countries while also collaborating with stakeholders.
47 Jae Sook Evans Chief Information Officer ORACLE
linkedin.com/in/jaesookevanshttps://www. /
Jae Sook Evans is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in building and leading global technology teams. Her expertise in cloud infrastructure and services has made a significant impact on industries such as telecommunications, online gaming, retail, and ecommerce. As an executive at Oracle, Jae is responsible for launching and operating Oracle Cloud Infrastructure regions to support the cloud service needs of customers worldwide. Her passion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace is evident through her role as executive sponsor of DE&I for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and her leadership across various industry organisations.
linkedin.com/in/bea-perez-8225919https://www. /
Bea Perez is the Chief Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability Officer in addition to being a member of the Executive Committee at The Coca-Cola Company. In her role, Bea leads an integrated team across public affairs and communications, sustainability and partnerships to support the company's new growth model and path to becoming a total beverage company. She aligns a diverse portfolio of work against the company's business objectives to support brands, communities, consumers, and partners worldwide. Bea also directs the philanthropic efforts of The Coca-Cola Foundation and is a strong advocate of community service.
https://twitter.com/Oprah
Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential women in the world, has built an impressive business empire over the years. Her media career started with ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, which became one of the highest-rated talk shows in television history. She then founded Harpo Productions, which produces several TV shows, including ‘Dr Phil’ and ‘The Dr Oz Show’. Oprah has also ventured into the publishing industry with O, The Oprah Magazine and owns a successful book club. Additionally, she has investments in Weight Watchers, owns her own television network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and has produced several films and documentaries.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-vanvoorhees-55200b33/
Cheryl VanVoorhees has more than 20 years of experience in sales, operations and leadership in the information technology and cybersecurity industries. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Head of Operations for Optiv, where she is responsible for driving scale for the company while leading core operations, services, and sales support functions. Cheryl is a strategy-driven executive with expertise in managing high-performing teams and executing important business initiatives. Prior to joining Optiv, Cheryl worked at Avnet Technology Solutions, where she managed inside sales teams, led strategic growth initiatives, and ran a talent development programme.
For more than 15 years, Patricia Stroup has been a leader in helping to source diverse ingredients and materials for the world's largest food and beverage company. Along with the team, her focus is on transforming the sourcing of key commodities –not only for Nestlé, but for the industry as a whole. Her work has emphasised social responsibility, sustainability impact, business results, and building long-term partnerships. Building diverse partnerships with international experts is essential for Patricia. During her leisure time, Patricia catches up on the latest episode of Freakonomics or enjoys the beautiful Swiss landscapes.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiehelias/
With over three decades of experience at Procter & Gamble in Brand Management and Innovation, Virginie Helias has extensive global experience across multiple categories and brand management expertise. Since 2011, Virginie's focus has been on sustainability and corporate citizenship, with a global remit covering all brands and business units in all regions. In 2016, she was promoted to Vice President of Global Sustainability in recognition of the work she led to make sustainability a core business strategy, an innovation driver, and a catalyst for a more resilient organisation. Virginie is also widely recognised for her vision, change management, and leadership development skills.
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As Chief Procurement Officer at Samsung Electronics, Amy Jones – who holds a degree from Boston University – is responsible for overseeing the procurement function for the global technology leader, which has almost 100,000 employees. Prior to joining Samsung, she held the position of Director of Procurement at Tata Communications, where she worked her way up from Assistant Procurement Manager. Samsung is known for its innovative technology products, with Amy playing a key role in ensuring that the company's procurement function supports its continued success.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/joann-stonier-5540b86/
JoAnn Stonier is the Chief Data Officer at Mastercard. With extensive expertise in data governance, analytics, quality, management, and system development, she specialises in developing data and analytic programmes, privacy programme development, business strategy, competitive analysis, and M&A due diligence. She has a significant understanding of privacy and data protection laws such as GDPR, GLBA, FCRA, and CCPA. JoAnn also has a background in operational and financial management, including accounting, auditing, and financial analysis, as well as experience with M&As and acquisition integration.
JP MORGAN CHASE & CO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-beer-93355a/
As the Global Chief Information Officer at JPMorgan Chase, Lori Beer leads the technology arm of one of the world's largest and most prominent financial services firms. JPMorgan Chase has operations worldwide, serving millions of consumers and corporate clients under the JPMorgan and Chase brands. The firm offers a range of financial services, including investment banking, commercial banking, and asset management. As CIO, she is responsible for leading JPMorgan Chase's technology organisation, driving both innovation and transformation across the firm's businesses. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Lori served on the Board of Directors for Vantiv.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/judith-wiese-542b4436/
Judith Wiese, a member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, serves as the Chief People and Sustainability Officer. As a leader, she strongly believes in the unique talents and traits that each individual brings to the table. She enjoys meeting people and listening to their stories, recognising that ability and willingness to experiment, learn, and collaborate in diverse teams will be critical to the future success of individuals and companies. For Judith, success is not only measured by the business impact but also by the volume of people who remain relevant and employable in a sustainable manner.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulette-frank-1a74691a/
Paulette Frank is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Johnson & Johnson, responsible for leading global environmental sustainability and human rights strategies. With a passion for sustainability and a belief that healthy people need a healthy planet, she is committed to developing a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. Paulette has over 30 years of experience in the fields of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), and Sustainability, having previously served as Vice President, Global Environmental Health, Safety & Sustainability at Johnson & Johnson. She also Co-Chairs the Enterprise Governance Council and Supply Chain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-ghatak-45b55a1/
Divya Ghatak is the Chief People Officer at SentinelOne, a leading provider of autonomous security solutions for endpoint, cloud, and identity environments. The company was founded in 2013 by cybersecurity and defence experts who revolutionised endpoint protection with a new, AI-powered approach. SentinelOne's platform unifies prevention, detection, response, remediation, and forensics in a single, easy-to-use solution. Divya is responsible for the company's human resources and talent acquisition strategy. She is also a board member for Samba TV and a member of the Mission Support Team at Women in CyberSecurity, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing the representation of women in the cybersecurity industry.
linkedin.com/in/tamhttps://www. mietham/
Tammie Tham is the Group CEO of Ensign InfoSecurity, the largest pure-play cybersecurity service provider in the Asia Pacific region. Ensign provides a comprehensive range of cybersecurity services, including cybersecurity advisory and assurance, architecture design, systems integration, and managed security services for advanced threat detection, threat hunting, and incident response. With Tammie's leadership, Ensign has become a leader in the cybersecurity industry. Prior to Ensign, Tammie founded Accel Technologies, a cyber security systems integrator. Ensign's expertise in cybersecurity is backed by its in-house R&D capabilities. The company is headquartered in Singapore and offers customised solutions to address its clients’ specific cybersecurity needs. Ensign has expanded its presence across the Asia Pacific region with offices in South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/laurengoodwin
Dr Lauren Goodwin is a mission-driven leader who has made a name for herself in various industries – including energy, tech, finance, and healthcare. She is recognised for her practical operational transformation that leads to interoperability across industries and organisations. In the energy industry, she pioneered a centre of excellence for data analytics that supported automated and predictive modelling for autonomous operations in remote locations worldwide, leading to cost savings and employee retention. Currently, as the Chief Information Officer of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, she is accountable for enabling innovation, modernisation, and cybersecurity for human space exploration.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ sofia-nunes-90ba4815/
Sofia Nunes is a Founding Member of CultureBrained, a virtual community of experienced culture leaders and champions from diverse backgrounds and industries. The community's primary focus is on finding new ways to cultivate outstanding cultures in the modern world of work. CultureBrained offers workshops, masterclasses, and mastermind groups to help members develop culture-shaping strategies that work for their businesses and people. The community's mission is to make work synonymous with fun, meaning, and belonging so that great companies can make a positive impact on the world. She is also a keen mentor for Creative Destruction Lab.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toyin-ajayi/
BET365
Denise Coates CBE is the British billionaire businesswoman who founded and owns a majority stake in the online gambling company Bet365. She purchased the domain name Bet365.com in 2000 and launched the site in 2001, using a £15mn loan from RBS against her family's betting shop estate. Bet365 is now one of the largest online gambling companies in the world, generating US$2bn in revenues and facilitating US$45bn in bets each year. The company also owns a majority stake in Stoke City Football Club. Denise still runs the company alongside her brother, John Coates, who serves as Co-CEO.
Cityblock Health's Co-Founder and CEO, Toyin Ajayi, leads a tech-driven healthcare provider that delivers personalised, prevention-oriented health and social care to communities with complex needs, ultimately driving down costs and improving outcomes. Cityblock Health leverages technology to bring practical information, coordination, and communication for members and care teams. Toyin also serves as a Board Member at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. Toyin graduated from both Stanford University and King’s College London, and going on to obtain a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ johannasmaros/
Johanna Småros is a supply chain and retail planning professional who is passionate about improving demand planning, merchandising, supply chain planning, and operations planning to achieve better efficiency and outcomes. She is motivated by achieving measurable results such as increased on-shelf availability and sales, reduced costs, and improved resource utilisation. Johanna is also one of the co-founders of RELEX Solutions, a renowned provider of supply chain and retail planning solutions that help retailers and consumer brands achieve profitable growth across all sales and distribution channels. RELEX is trusted by leading brands such as Aholde Delhaize USA, Stokke, Kwik Trip, and Rossmann.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bravata/
Dena Bravata Co-Founder of Lyra Health, which was established in 2015. The company helps patients with behavioural health concerns receive timely and cost-effective care. Dena has over 20 years of experience as a health technology entrepreneur, physician, and health services researcher, while also having led various teams in clinical, product management, and data sciences. She has graduated from Yale, Columbia, and Stanford – some of the most prestigious universities in the US – and is also a Board Member at both Wisdom and Mindful Health Solutions, and a Board Observer at Found.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/adelina-grozdanova-42baa223/
Upgrade is a fintech unicorn founded in 2017 with Adelina Grozdanova as Co-Founder and Head of the Investor Group. Upgrade has helped customers access over US$21bn in consumer credit, with millions of families across America using a credit line, personal loan, Rewards Checking or HighYield Savings account. Prior to this role, she was an Advisor for Cardless and spent six years at Morgan Stanley. Adelina also studied at Princeton University and is on the Board of Directors at MightyOwl.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/neeti-mehta-shukla-511476/
As the Co-Founder and Social Impact Officer of Automation Anywhere, Neeti Mehta Shukla leads the company's efforts in robotic process automation. She launched the first social impact office to provide the benefits of automation to social organisations and break poverty cycles by driving accessibility to tech jobs. Automation Anywhere aims to help businesses build a digital workforce and thrive with automation. Neeti graduated from Bond University in Australia with an MBA and is now on the Bond University Business School Advisory Board.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/lucy-guo-a7804955/
Lucy Guo is the CEO of Passes and a freelance owner of various consumer web and mobile apps. Her apps have been used by 7+ million people in over 15 countries, with some ranking in the top 10 in at least 5 countries. Some of her popular apps include Pokecrew, AccessURL, and FriendSwipe. In 2014, Lucy graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Computer Science and Human-Computer Interactions.
LUXSHARE
Wang Laichun is the Chairwoman and Co-Founder of Luxshare Precision Industry Co. Ltd, a Chinese electronics manufacturer that designs and manufactures computer cables and is a key assembler of AirPods for Apple. Luxshare-ICT was publicly listed on the SME board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2010. In 2014, Wang was named one of the world's youngest self-made women billionaires at just 46 years of age, and, in 2021, she was named the second-richest woman in China.
HTC
https://twitter.com/cherwang?lang=en
Born on September 15, 1958 in Taipei, Taiwan, Cher Wang pursued her education at The College Preparatory School in Oakland, California. She obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981. Now, Cher is a successful entrepreneur, Co-Founder and Chairperson of HTC Corporation and VIA Technologies. In 2015, she became CEO of HTC and in 2017, HTC and Google announced a cooperation agreement worth US$1.1bn. In addition, Cher’s charity foundations hold stocks with a market value exceeding US$20mn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinanfonseca/
Cristina Fonseca, a female tech entrepreneur, is driven by her passion for problem-solving, continuous learning, and executing tasks with excellence. With a diverse skill-set, she has taken on multiple roles, including engineering, coding, design, and knowledge management. As an enthusiastic mentor and speaker, Cristina has been one of the pioneers in promoting entrepreneurship in Portugal. Cristina co-founded Talkdesk, a platform that simplifies call centre creation and integration with top business tools like Salesforce, Desk.com, and Zendesk in a matter of minutes. The company has grown rapidly, raising over US$24mn in funding from leading investors such as Salesforce Ventures, DFJ and Storm Ventures.
Before becoming the Global Chief Information Officer at Unilever, Sam Kini held the position of Global Vice President of Applications. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the enterprise architecture, applied technology, development and delivery of all applications and platforms, as well as the experience delivery teams and enterprise operations on a global level. Prior to this, she served as Chief Data and Information Officer at easyJet, where she was accountable for all IT, data, digital, and cybersecurity operations, as well as portfolio and transformation delivery across the easyJet group.
linkedin.com/in/rebecca-marhttps://www.mot-742a31130/
Rebecca Marmot is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Unilever, having previously served as Global External Affairs Director at L'Oréal and as Global Vice President leading Unilever's Sustainability, Advocacy, Policy, and Partnerships teams. Her expertise in stakeholder engagement and building optimal environments for strategic and commercial partnerships has made her a valuable asset to the company's leadership team. Rebecca is based in London, England and was previously the External Affairs Manager for the UK Department of Trade & Industry.
linkedin.com/in/katebrandthttps://www. /
Being in charge of sustainability for all of Google's global operations, products, and supply chains is Kate Brandt's role as Chief Sustainability Officer. Kate collaborates with Google's data centres, real-estate, supply chain, and product teams in this capacity to make sure the company takes advantage of chances to strategically improve sustainability.
Prior to this, Kate was the first Federal Chief Sustainability Officer in the country. She was in charge of promoting sustainability throughout all Federal Government operations, which included 360,000 buildings, 650,000 vehicles, and $445bn in annual purchases of products and services.
linkedin.com/in/jennifer-moceri-a825032https://www. / An accomplished global executive, experienced in organisational transformation and talent development, Jennifer Moceri is currently serving as the Chief Procurement Officer at Diageo. With a focus on driving benchmark performance, she leads the procurement function by building collaborative relationships and implementing continuous improvement strategies. Her extensive background in the consumer, automotive, and food ingredients industries spans over two decades, during which she has consistently achieved impressive results by prioritising productivity through a relentless focus on driving step changes.
IBM
linkedin.com/in/kathryn-guarinihttps://www. /
Kathryn Guarini is the Chief Information Officer at IBM, with a passion for science and technology and a focus on solving some of the greatest challenges facing business, society, and the world. She leads a global team of nearly 12,000 employees, whose mission is to create a productive environment for IBM's 250,000+ employees worldwide and deliver the future of IT. With over two decades of IT executive and management experience, she drives technical innovation and has held various roles at IBM, including research, development, and product management, now in the role of CIO for the organisation.
Sheri Hinish – also known as the ‘Supply Chain Queen’ – is a recognised leader in sustainable supply chains and circularity. As a CSO, CPO, and CSCO Advisor, she helps clients design and build future-fit enterprises and ecosystems that champion stewardship to create impactful, equitable, and responsible change. She hosts the ‘Supply Chain Revolution’ podcast and envisions changing the world through shared purpose and sustainable supply chains.
Sheri is also a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Sheri has recently taken the role of Principal, Global Sustainability Innovation and Ecosystem Leader at EY and previously served at IBM.
FAIRE
linkedin.com/in/laurencookslevitanhttps://www. /
Lauren Cooks Levitan is the CFO of Faire, an online wholesale marketplace that connects independent businesses globally. Faire uses technology, data, and machine learning to empower entrepreneurs, levelling the playing field against big box and ecommerce giants. By supporting the growth of independent businesses, Faire is driving positive economic impact in local communities worldwide. Lauren is also an Independent Board Director for the beauty brand e.l.f cosmetics, which is based in the San Francisco Bay area. She also obtained her MBA from Stanford University.
15 Corie Barry Chief Executive Officer BEST BUY
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coriebarry/
Corie Barry is CEO of Best Buy Co. Inc., the leading provider of consumer technology products and services, with approximately 100,000 employees in North America and US$47bn in annual revenue. Under her leadership, Best Buy has undergone a significant transformation, focusing on enhancing the customer experience, expanding the company's digital capabilities, and investing in employee training and development. Corrie also played a key role in driving Best Buy's sustainability initiatives, committing to reducing the company's carbon footprint and promoting environmentally-responsible practices.
https://www.linkedin.com/ in/musidora-jorgensen/
Musidora Jorgensen, the Chief Sustainability Officer of Microsoft UK, is a leader who believes in the power of businesses to make a positive impact in the world. She focuses on unlocking and nurturing the potential of others to achieve collective success. Prior to joining Microsoft, Musidora held sales leadership roles in top companies such as Salesforce and Oracle, where she spearheaded sales initiatives in various industries. As a mother of three daughters, she is a strong advocate for equality and diversity, and is passionate about encouraging more women to pursue careers in STEM.
BYJU'S
Divya Gokulnath co-founded BYJU'S, India's largest ed-tech company that offers adaptive and engaging learning programs for students from LKG to 12th grade and competitive exams. The company's flagship product, BYJU’S - The Learning App, has over 75 million registered students and 5.2mn annual paid subscriptions. BYJU'S is transforming the learning experience through visual lessons, acquiring companies like Osmo and White Hat Jr to enhance its offline-to-online learning offerings.
in/crisjunqueirahttps://www.linkedin.com/ /?originalSubdomain=br
Cristina Junqueira is famous among the Latin American banking fraternity because not only did she smash the glass ceiling in the fiercely male-orientated environment of the Brazilian financial industry, but her contributions have helped launch a new wave of digital banking and finance in the region.
Christina is a qualified engineer and mother-oftwo who co-founded Brazil’s first digital bank. The project has been phenomenally successful, with more than 25 million customers on their books in a little under a decade of operation. The fintech was also recently named as the world’s first and only company with a female founder to reach a valuation above US$10bn.
11 Gina Rinehart ChairmanKnown for her pro-business activism, Gina Rinehart built her fortune after taking over her father’s privately-held mining company, Hancock Prospecting; she is now Australia’s richest woman with a net worth of US$29.9bn.
Gina’s flagship achievement is the exploration, financing, construction, and operation of the US$10bn Roy Hill project, which started shipments to Asia in 2015. The mining magnate also fulfils many philanthropic duties, supporting a number of medical, health, educational, sporting, and community organisations. She also serves as a Patron for Australia’s Olympic swimming, volleyball, rowing, and synchronised swimming teams.
Chief Executive Officer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roz-brewer/
As one of only two Black women currently leading a Fortune 500 firm – and just the third Black woman in history to serve as a Fortune 500 CEO – Rosalind Brewer is certainly used to success.
After graduating from Spelman College, Atlanta in 1984, Rosalind joined Kimberly-Clark as a research technician. Over the course of 22 years, Rosalind continued to climb the career ladder, moving from marketing manager to President of manufacturing and operations.
In 2006, Rosalind left Kimberly-Clark to pursue a career at Walmart, where she served as the Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Executive Vice President for southeastern operations, as well as Executive Vice President for the eastern business unit. After many years, she was finally elected President of Walmart East. Coffee giant Starbucks snapped Rosalind up in 2017, where she sat on the Board of Directors and
was named COO and Group President. During her time with Starbucks – which came to an end earlier this year – she implemented policy changes and racial bias training for employees in more than 8,000 stores. Meanwhile, in 2019, she became the only Black woman to sit on Amazon’s board.
Prior to Starbucks, Rosalind served as President and CEO of membership-only retail warehouse club Sam’s Club, from 2012 to 2017.
All of this experience leads us to the current day, where Rosalind is now the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. She serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Spelman College and is also a Board Member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
At just 14 years old, Melanie Perkins started her first business, selling handmade scarves at markets throughout her home city of Perth, Australia. The small-butmighty experience inspired Melanie to become the businesswoman she is today, as it fuelled her with the excitement of building her own company.
While studying Communications, Psychology, and Commerce at the University of Western Australia, Melanie was also a private tutor for students learning graphic design. During her sessions, she realised that many students struggled to grasp popular programmes, such as Adobe Photoshop –which she saw as a business opportunity. Dropping out of university, Melanie launched Canva in 2013 with her now-husband, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams in Sydney, Australia.
Canva faced a number of challenges from sceptics, as many believed that its location in Australia would hinder the company’s success. Defying
all doubts, however, Canva has attracted 60 million monthly users to its freemium software.
Melanie owns an estimated 18% stake in Canva, which was valued by private investors at US$40bn in September 2021. Now one of the richest women in the world, Melanie and her husband have agreed to transfer more than 80% of their stake to the Canva Foundation for charitable causes.
linkedin.com/in/mary-barrahttps://www. /
Mary Barra achieved her success the old-fashioned way – by working up the ranks. Rising from positions in engineering, manufacturing, and product development, before being appointed as head of human resources, Mary honed her experience to put her in the number one spot to be General Motors’ (GM) CEO.
As the first female CEO of one of the ‘Big Three’ automotive companies, Mary has become one of the most influential figures in the industry. And, if she’s able to steer General Motors (GM) on its current trajectory – aiming to abandon petroleum propulsion of its vehicles by 2035 – her name will be ingrained in the history books even more so.
Yet this ambitious goal isn’t the only groundbreaking success that Mary has seen. Throughout her career, she has been faced with a number of difficult decisions – and, so far, her solutions seem to have been spot on. These choices include axeing sedans,
leaving Europe, and closing plants.
But her pioneering vision doesn’t stop there. Mary has invested billions of dollars in self-driving cars, electric vehicles, and Maven – a ride-share service – while fiercely advocating the development of GM’s first all-electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt.
GM has become well-known for its great performances in gender equality reports, and, in 2018, it was one of just two global businesses without a gender pay gap. In 2020, when priorities altered because of the deadly pandemic, Mary shifted GM’s product lines to assist Ventec Life Systems in making life-saving ventilators.
Mary’s adaptability and success enabled her to become the highest compensated of any leader of a Big Three automaker, after making US$21.6mn in 2019.
linkedin.com/in/thasunda-brown-https://www. duckett-22b15523/
Thasunda Brown Duckett’s career started when she landed an internship with Fannie Mae, which sparked her interest in studying a degree in Finance and Marketing, as well as her MBA at Baylor University. After graduating, Thasunda received multiple job offers but, in the end, chose loyalty –and the lowest-paying role – by accepting a position at her first company, Fannie Mae.
During her employment, Thasunda became the Director of Emerging Markets and led the implementation of national strategies designed to increase homeownership for Black and Hispanic Americans.
Her next step was to become CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Responsible for more than US$600bn in deposits and investments on top of 50,000 employees, she helped the bank develop new tools and products to increase the financial health of all consumers.
Now, Thasunda is the President and CEO of the Fortune 500 firm Teachers’ Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), a company with a mission defined by opportunity and financial inclusion. Thasunda is just the fourth Black woman in history to serve as a Fortune 500 CEO and the second Black woman currently leading a Fortune 500 firm.
The Rosie and Otis Brown Foundation was established by Thasunda in 2013 to honour her parents. The organisation itself looks to recognise and reward individuals who use ordinary means to uplift and empower their communities in extraordinary ways.
Thasunda serves on the boards of NIKE, Inc., the National Medal of Honor Museum, Sesame Workshop, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Economic Club of New York, and the Dean’s Advisory Board for Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-griffith-a2b153bb/
Tricia Griffith is a highly successful business executive serving as the President and CEO of The Progressive Corporation, which is one of the largest auto insurance providers in the US. She was appointed to the role in July 2016, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the company's history. Prior to her appointment, Tricia served as the Personal Lines Chief Operating Officer, overseeing several key areas of the business, including personal lines, claims, and customer relationship management.
Tricia joined Progressive as a Claims Representative in 1988 and has held various leadership positions during her tenure. She has served as Chief Human Resources Officer, where she launched the company's first-ever diversity and inclusion programme, creating the Progressive African American Network and LGBTQIA+ in 2007. In 2008, she became the group President of Claims, overseeing all claims functions. Before
her appointment as Personal Lines Chief Operating Officer, Tricia served as President of Customer Operations, where she oversaw claims and the customer management group.
Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth at Progressive. She has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and business acumen, receiving several awards and accolades.
Tricia holds a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business' Advanced Management Program. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and has worked tirelessly to promote equality and fairness for all employees. Her leadership has been a driving force in shaping the culture and success of Progressive, and she continues to inspire others to achieve their full potential.
Jane Fraser’s appointment as Citi’s Chief Executive was quite an accomplishment. Though a personal one for Jane, it was a much bigger one for women on Wall Street collectively, attempting to penetrate the traditional stepping-stone roles to CEO positions that are overwhelmingly catered to and filled by men. Consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that women held just 6% of CEO positions at major financial firms globally in 2019 – a 2% drop since 2016.
Jane became CEO of Citigroup on March 1, 2021 and, on her very first day in office, made a public pledge that Citigroup Inc. would achieve netzero GHG emissions by 2050. Jane has rightly become known as a leader who ‘gets stuff done’.
A McKinsey consultant turned financial executive, she is renowned for having a ‘solid track record’ and for being a ‘fixer’, having worked her way through key business units at Citi, leaving each in a better state than she found it.
And while her credentials (University of Cambridge, Goldman Sachs, Partner at McKinsey, MBA Harvard) and Wall Street reputation speak for themselves, it’s her ‘ferocious work ethic’ yet reluctance to sacrifice her personal life to get to the top that has resonated with many in financial circles – especially women.
From the basketball courts to the boardroom, Gail Boudreaux has celebrated a string of successes leading to her current position as President and CEO of Anthem.
With more than three decades in the healthcare industry, Gail has achieved a phenomenal record of successfully leading multi-billion-dollar businesses.
As a leading health benefits provider and Fortune 500 company, Anthem serves more than 43 million insured members through its affiliated health plans. Over 107 million lives are served through its broad portfolio of services subsidiaries and health insurance, making Anthem the second largest company in the US with a female CEO.
But did you know that Gail's success first started on the basketball court during her college years? Not only was she Dartmouth's all-time lead scorer and rebounder, but she was also awarded Ivy League
Player of the Year for three straight seasons.
Alas, basketball wasn’t the career she envisioned, so she went to business school. After graduating from Columbia University, she pursued what would become a 20-year-career at healthcare giant AETNA and was later appointed as President of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois in 2002.
United Healthcare named Gail as the Executive Vice President in 2005, and, three years later, she was appointed CEO. During this time, she was responsible for US$120bn in revenue and more than 60,000 employees serving 45 million consumers.
But still, bigger and better things awaited Gail. In 2017, she founded Anthem, Inc, which, after just a few short years, became one of the largest healthcare companies in the US.
Leading more than 300,000 colleagues who are paving the way to transform the healthcare industry to be simpler, personalised and more convenient, Karen Lynch ascended to the top of CVS Health in 2021. She first joined the company in 2018, when CVS Health completed its US$70bn acquisition of Aetna.
CVS Health touches the lives of more than 100 million people through 9,900 pharmacies, 1,000 MinuteClinics and HealthHub locations, and the 34 million people who use CVS’s healthcare services and products. The company has also played a fundamental role in America’s response to the pandemic by testing solutions and aiding vaccine administration across the country. The company is responsible for the largest number of independent COVID-19 testing sites in the US.
Prior to her time at CVS Health, Karen was Head of Specialty Products for Aetna and was responsible for delivering high-value healthcare to millions of customers. After just three months in the role, Karen led the integration of Coventry Health Care, which was the largest healthcare acquisition at the time. A few years later in 2015, Karen was named Aetna’s first female president.
Karen also serves on the board of US Bancorp, is Chair of their Audit Committee, and serves as a member of the Business Roundtable.
AMD
When most 10-year-olds break remote-controlled cars, it’s by accident. But for Lisa Su, it was to discover exactly how they worked. So, it should have come as no surprise to Lisa’s parents when she graduated with a PhD in Electrical Engineering from MIT, in 1994. She focused a vast amount of her studies on understanding and advancing state-of-the-art semiconductor device technologies, which is when she began to envision a future where semiconductors played a pivotal role in everyday life.
Her early career was mainly spent with IBM, where she worked her way up from a research member of staff. MIT Technology Review named Lisa as a ‘Top Innovator Under 35’ in 2002, primarily due to her passion for merging technologies with new
applications. Her ambition was also the driving force behind her work to replace the standard aluminium interconnects that were used in the bulk of major chips with copper, which fuelled the advancement of more energy-efficient chips. After leaving IBM, Lisa held the position of Chief Technology Officer at Freescale.
Lisa became Senior Vice President and General Manager at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in 2012. In 2014, she was appointed as CEO and, now, is driven by one clear goal: to ensure that the bright engineers at AMD are focused on the hope of solving some of the world’s toughest challenges.
Since Lisa has been at the helm of AMD, company stocks have soared more than 25-fold, reaching a staggering US$110bn market capitalisation as of early July 2021.
Taking the world by storm, Carol Tomé stepped out of retirement in 2020 to pursue her dream role as the first female CEO at the global shipping and logistics services company UPS.
In her early years, Carol drew great inspiration from her father, a community banker, which influenced her to study at The University of Denver’s business school.
For the majority of her career, Carol worked at Home Depot, where she worked with every CEO in the company’s history, starting with Co-Founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, Robert Nardelli, Frank Blake and Craig Menear. In 2001, she was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
During her 24 years at the company, Home Depot grew from 400 stores to a staggering 2,200, with a revenue of nearly US$100bn.
In 2019, she decided that she was ‘at peace’ with retiring from her role and planned to spend more time with friends, family, her farm, and corporate boards. After a successful career making money, however, the novelty of a quiet life on the farm wasn’t all it seemed.
After a very brief retirement, Carol was announced as CEO Elect of UPS. And she definitely began her time there as she meant to go on – ‘shaking things up’. From implementing review boards and divestitures to coordinating same-day delivery, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, employee development, and local philanthropic engagement, Carol has been working to change the way UPS operates, promoting its strategy of being a customer-first, peopleled, and innovation-driven organisation.
