Top 10 Most Powerful Women CEOs Leading Fortune 500 Companies

Top 10 Most Powerful Women CEOs Leading Fortune 500 Companies

By Michael Thornton

March 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM

Women represent just over 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs, with 52 female leaders at the helm of America's largest corporations as of 2023. Here are the most influential women CEOs currently leading major companies:

Karen Lynch - CVS Health

  • Became CEO in February 2021
  • Leads one of the world's largest health providers
  • Ranked #6 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2023

Gail Boudreaux - Elevance Health

  • CEO since 2017
  • Drove 70% stock increase in first four years
  • Previously led UnitedHealthcare
  • Ranked #11 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Mary Barra - General Motors

  • First female CEO of a major U.S. automaker (since 2014)
  • Leading GM's transition to electric vehicles by 2035
  • Ranked #5 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Carol Tomé - UPS

  • First female CEO, appointed June 2020
  • Came out of retirement from Home Depot CFO role
  • Successfully managed pandemic logistics challenges
  • Ranked #22 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Jane Fraser - Citigroup

  • First woman to run a major Wall Street bank
  • Became CEO in 2021
  • Focusing on simplifying operations
  • Ranked #10 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Corie Barry - Best Buy

  • Appointed CEO in 2019 at age 44
  • Youngest Fortune 100 CEO at time of appointment
  • Started at Best Buy in 1999

Tricia Griffith - Progressive

  • CEO since 2016
  • Oversees $75.4 billion in annual revenue
  • Champion of workplace diversity and inclusion
  • Ranked #56 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Thasunda Brown Duckett - TIAA

  • Appointed CEO in February 2021
  • Only Black woman CEO in Fortune 500
  • Previously led Chase Consumer Banking
  • Ranked #34 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024

Safra Catz - Oracle

  • Sole CEO since 2019
  • Led over 130 acquisitions
  • Ranked #16 on Forbes' Most Powerful Women 2024
  • #20 on Forbes' America's Richest Self-Made Women 2024

These leaders are breaking barriers and reshaping corporate America, though women still face significant challenges in reaching top positions. The trend is positive, with one-quarter of current women CEOs appointed in the last year, suggesting continued progress toward gender parity in corporate leadership.

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