Top Women CEOs

These women lead Fortune 500 companies

Reviewed by Somer Anderson

It’s often said that the glass ceiling in corporate boardrooms is still intact, but cracks are starting to appear. While women represent a significantly smaller percentage of chief executive officers (CEOs at the helm of Fortune 500 companies, their numbers are steadily increasing. These women are not only leading major corporations but also breaking barriers and changing history in industries once dominated by men.

Key Takeaways

• Women make up a small but growing percentage of CEOs in the largest corporations.
• Women lead Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.
• Many of these women are breaking new ground and reshaping industries once led by men.
• Most of the CEOs featured here are ranked on Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women list.

Gail Boudreaux

CEO, Elevance Health (ELV), formerly Anthem

Gail Boudreaux was named CEO of Elevance Health, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., in 2017. The company’s stock increased by more than 70% in her first four years as CEO.

Boudreaux was previously CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest division within UnitedHealth Group. She ranked #11 on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2024.

Important

In 2024, 52 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were women.

Mary Barra

CEO, General Motors (GM)

Mary Barra is the first female CEO of General Motors, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. She slid into the driver’s seat at GM in January 2014, becoming the first woman to lead a major U.S. automaker. She took the wheel from Daniel Akerson who is credited for turning the company profitable after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009.

Barra is leading GM’s ambitious transition to electric vehicles, with plans to shift to an all-electric future by 2035. She ranked #5 on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2024 list.

Carol Tomé

CEO, United Parcel Service (UPS)

Tomé came out of retirement to take the helm of UPS in June 2020. She had previously retired from her role as the chief financial officer (CFO) of Home Depot in 2019. Tomé is the first female CEO at UPS and the first UPS CEO who wasn’t promoted from within.

She prioritized planning the logistics for the 2020 holiday season and COVID-19 vaccine deliveries during her first 100 days as CEO. She was #22 on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2024 list.

Jane Fraser

CEO, Citigroup (C)

Jane Fraser stepped into the role of Citigroup’s CEO in 2021 and became the company’s first female CEO and the first to run a Wall Street bank. She joined Citi in 2004 and held various executive roles, including CEO of Global Consumer Banking and Citi’s president.

Fraser has focused on simplifying Citigroup’s operations to make it easier to manage and improve. Fraser was listed as #10 on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2024 list.

Corie Barry

CEO, Best Buy (BBY)

At 44, Corie Barry became the CEO of Best Buy in 2019, making her the youngest CEO of a Fortune 100 company at the time. Barry’s journey at Best Buy began in 1999, and she has held various leadership roles, including CFO.

In terms of career advice, Barry says, “Have those uncomfortable moments. Because my strong personal belief is it is those moments that cause you to grow the most yourself, but that also differentiate you the most in your career.”

Tricia Griffith

CEO, Progressive (PGR)

Griffith was named CEO of Progressive in 2016 after prior roles as Personal Lines COO and chief human resources officer. Progressive, a property and casualty insurance firm, reported $75.4 billion in revenue in FY 2024.

Progressive is a top-rated company in diversity and inclusion under Griffith’s leadership. Griffith ranks #56 among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024.

Thasunda Brown Duckett

CEO, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA)

Retirement and investment manager TIAA named Thasunda Brown Duckett as its CEO in February 2021, making her the first woman to lead the company.

Duckett succeeded Roger W. Ferguson Jr., who was one of five Black CEOs in the Fortune 500 before retiring. She was CEO of Chase Consumer Banking before TIAA. Duckett holds the #34 spot on Forbes‘ 100 Most Powerful Women for 2024.

Safra Catz

CEO, Oracle (ORCL)

Safra Catz has been a driving force at Oracle, serving as the company’s CEO since 2019 after initially sharing the role with co-CEO Mark Hurd. Catz was previously Oracle’s CFO.

The tech giant has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy under her leadership, completing more than 130 acquisitions. Catz is listed in the #16 position on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024 and the #20 position on Forbes‘ America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2024 list.

How Many CEOs Are Women?

As of the end of 2023, women held 52 CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies, making up 10.4% of the total. This marks a significant increase from the 41 women CEOs in 2021. The rise in the number of female CEOs is a positive trend, though women still represent a smaller percentage compared to men.

Which Other Companies Have Women CEOs?

Some additional Fortune 500 companies that had women CEOs in 2023 include Reliance Steel & Aluminum, American Electric Power, Parker-Hannifin, Fidelity National Information Services, and Automatic Data Processing.

How Many Black Women CEOs Are There?

Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), and Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boot Alliance, were the only Black woman CEOs of a Fortune 500 company as of 2023.

The Bottom Line

Women still face barriers in the workplace due to gender-based discrimination but they’re increasingly joining the ranks of the C-suite at some major companies. More women become CEOs every year even though the number of men serving as CEOs far outnumbers the number of women in this top position. Women held 52 CEO positions with Fortune 500 companies as of 2024 and one-quarter of those women became CEOs in the previous year.