Introducing the Top 10 Female CEOs of Companies in the World

As the agenda of gender equality prevails in the world, women are now starting to be acknowledged by many companies and corporations. For decades, enterprises were vacant of women and their capabilities, but the recent change in the ratio of females in the professional field is mind-boggling.

You will be shocked to hear about females and their capabilities that have broken many glass ceilings to become the world’s most successful and highest paid.

The persistent gender gap in companies never offered females to showcase their potential and talent; however, since equality has prevailed, the business world is observing more women’s power.

Only 24 of the Global 500 companies have women as their CEOs. Even though this is a small number, it’s the highest it has ever been since Fortune started making this list in 2014. So, who are these amazing women leading big companies, and how have they changed the business world?

In this article, we will be exploring some of the highest-paid female CEOs in the world, examining their backgrounds, contributions, and the factors that contribute to their financial success.

What might be shocking to you is the vastly known and famous brands are even owned and run by women themselves, which is oblivious to you till now.

Top 10 Female CEOs of Companies 

We will be contemplating the top 10 female CEOs to exist in 2023. However, most of them are among the world’s top highest-paid CEOs. Shocking right? That’s how much women have succeeded in the last few decades.

These women are known for independence, leadership, and mentor figure for the youth. Their companies are recognized worldwide. However, thousands of women are part of global business phenomena, but we only have the chance to brief about 10 prominent females influencing the business corporations this year.

1. Safra Catz – Oracle Corporation

The co-CEO of Oracle corporation, Safra Catz, is known for her influential and motivational charisma, influencing many young minds. Despite her age, she has achieved substantial success in technology.

With her strategic vision and expertise, Safra has played a role in the trajectory of Oracle, a multinational computer technology corporation. We will be delving into the meaningful life of Safra Catz and her professional achievements.

The 63- year old Safra Catz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She later on, invested her youth years in Juris Doctor Degree.

Her strong academic background of Sara played a crucial role in her professional life by equipping her with the knowledge and skills to excel in the fields of finance and law.

Safra Catz is beyond successful in her domain, which helped her obtain a financially strong and successful life. Per our reports, Safra has more than $1.5 billion net worth. The figure showcases her effort and success.

Catz’s long-term endeavors with Oracle have benefited the company’s growth and her professional life.

Under the influence of Safra, Oracle witnessed substantial growth and profit. She joined the corporation in 1999 when Oracle was a small startup, from the position of chief financial officer to the sole CEO of a famous company.

Safra supported Mark Hurd as the leading CEO of Oracle, but after his passing, Sara was the only leading figure of the company.

Safra Catz has been a gem for Oracle because of her instrumental in driving the company’s expansion into cloud computing, recognizing the industry’s evolving landscape and the need for innovative solutions to improve the company’s growth.

From an Israeli immigrant to a successful business tycoon, Safra Catz has shown immense dedication, struggle, and resilience for the upcoming generations.

2. Mary Barra – General Motors

Talking of the automotive industry and not talking of Mary Barra is foolish. Barra is a talented entrepreneur co-operating with an automotive enterprise.

As General Motors’ owner, Mary represents herself as the icon of resistance, dedication, and struggle. Barra has built an impressive career and established herself as one of the most influential leaders in the corporate world.

The Michigan-born Mary Barra has a solid academic background that laid the foundation of her professional field. Kettering University offered her a degree of Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. In further academic progress, Marry chose Stanford University for an MBA program.

Mary Barra is counted as the richest CEO in the world, with an estimated net worth of $60 million. The substantial net worth of Mary Barra reflects the success of General Motors in the industry. Barra’s wealth signifies the effort and struggles she made for her company.

The most intriguing part of Mary’s journey starts on the factory floor of General Motors. However, the company acknowledged her leadership quality and dedication towards the automotive industry and helped her climb up the stairs of her success.

The journey that started in the early 1980s made a historical turn when Mary was appointed the first woman to lead a major global automaker when she was appointed CEO of General Motors.

Mary Barra has been instrumental in driving the company’s focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous technology, which transformed the innovation of General Motors.

These unique ideas of Mary resulted in the growth of the company. Mary Barra’s strategic vision has positioned General Motors as a leading player in the EV market by introducing groundbreaking electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the commitment to an all-electric future with the Ultium platform.

In the top companies’ CEOs list, Mary Barra is named “the most powerful woman,” representing their dedication, faith, and resilience toward her profession.

She has emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive corporate culture and has actively worked to elevate the representation of women and minorities in leadership positions.

3. Gail Boudreaux – Anthem

Gail Boudreaux is a known and talented entrepreneur, leading a healthcare enterprise worldwide. The contributions of Gail Boudreaux have sparked her name in the industry. She owns Anthem, a healthcare insurance company that runs operations around the continent.

The academic background of Gail Boudreaux is interesting for her profession because she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Dartmouth University and then later proceeded to do her MBA from Columbia business school. However, her education played an important role in excelling her skills to succeed in her profession.

The journey of Gail Boudreaux has extended in the healthcare industry for more than three decades, and it is climbing the stairs of success day by day.

Before her role at Anthem, Boudreaux held executive positions at various healthcare organizations, such as UnitedHealth Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, and Aetna.

In November 2017, Gail was appointed the company’s CEO, and later on, the growth and development followed Anthem. Being the leader of the biggest health insurance company in the US is not easy. Still, Gail performed her duty immensely and navigated and innovated the Anthem in the direction of success.

Gail Boudreaux has provided their customers with affordable healthcare options and alternatives. Anthem always keeps customer satisfaction as its priority.

Boudreaux’s strategic vision has expanded Anthem’s digital capabilities, facilitating greater access to healthcare services and improving member engagement.

4. Lynn Good – Duke Energy

Lynn Good has sparked her name worldwide by performing an excellent duty in the energy field. Duke Energy is the largest electric supplier in the USA, led by Lynn Good. Lynn’s contributions to the industry and the company have been terrific throughout the years.

Lynn’s academic background plays a vital part in pivoting the structure of her professional life; the Miami-born Lynn Good earned her Bachelor’s degree in system analysis from Miami University in Ohio. The strong academic background benefited Lynn’s professional life.

Being on the list of highest-paid CEOs in the world, the estimated net worth of Lynn is $46 million. The substantial amount of success provided to Lynn shows her dedication, struggle, and faith in her profession.

Her journey with Lynn started at Duke Energy in 2003, and later on, she was appointed as the CEO of Duke Energy in 2013. Lynn’s role as CEO involves overseeing the company’s operations, strategic direction, and overall performance.

The main strategic agenda led by Lynn is the supply of clean energy in the USA and the decrease in the environmental footprint of the company. These motives represent the idea and unique thinking Lynn that provided Lynn with power and success.

Duke Energy has received recognition for its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship because of the efforts done by Lynn.

The company has been included in various sustainability indices, demonstrating its efforts to address climate change and promote responsible business practices.

5. Jane Fraser – Citigroup

Jane Fraser is a highlighting personality among the biggest CEOs of companies. The contributions of Jane Fraser in the industry of finance are terrific. Citigroup is the biggest multinational bank that runs operations worldwide and is led by Jane and her capable team.

Jane Fraser was born in Scotland, completed their master’s degree in economics from Girton College, and later pursued her MBA from Harvard Business School. Her strong academic background helped her to lay the foundation of her profession in the field of finance.

Jane Fraser is counted among the highest-paid CEOs in the world, having an estimated net worth of $14 million. The journey of Jane Froser was not an easy one. She is seen as a business icon and an influential personality.

Jane Fraser is the CEO of Citigroup in the year of 2021. Before leading the company in 2021, Jane was serving as the main leader of Citigroup, and she also served as the CEO of Citigroup Latin America, where she oversaw the company’s operations across 23 countries in the region. Under her leadership, the Latin American division achieved success and growth.

Citigroup has witnessed evident growth and development under the performance of Jane Froser. Her risk management in the banking sector has facilitated the company in various ways. The financial industry is seeking more women leaders like Jane Froser, who can turn the coin for the enterprises.

6. Sonia Syngal – Gap Inc

Sonia Syngal is the CEO of Gap Inc, a globally observed apparel and accessories retailer. Sonia is entertaining the retail industry with her talented and innovative ideas and strategies that have helped Gap Inc to climb the stairs of success in the past few years.

The Indian-Canadian Sonia Syngal is a business tycoon with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from Stanford School of Business. Sonia’s strong and diverse background provided her career with a brighter future.

Sonia Syngal is counted in the list of most successful Indian CEOs, having an estimated net worth of $18 million. The success and money followed Sonia due to her constant struggle, resilience, and faith in herself.

Before diving into Sonia’s CEO journey, she was appointed to many leadership positions in the company. Before working and leading the navy division of Gap Inc, she drove the sector towards productivity and growth through persistent efforts.

Sonia has also emphasized the importance of sustainability and responsible business practices. She has led initiatives to enhance Gap Inc.’s environmental and social impact, including setting ambitious sustainability goals and supporting diverse and inclusive workplaces.

7. Corie Barry – Best Buy

The electronic retail industry is incomplete without Best Buy, and Best Buy is incomplete by Corrie Barry. She is serving as CEO of the company Best Buy.

The contributions made in the field of electronic retail by Corries are extraordinary and worth mentioning. Corrie is an influential personality of its own.

Corrie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the College of Saint Benedict and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. The strong and diverse educational background helped Corie to kick start her career at best buy in 1999.

The estimated net worth of Corrie Barry is more than $55 million. She is counted in the list of highest-paid CEOs in the world. Corie is a business tycoon and potential competitor in the industry.

A strong financial background enables her to release strategies and ideas to compete for number one. Corie’s journey as CEO started in 2019, and since then, best buy has been on top of the charts.

Twenty years after serving the company in other leadership positions, Corie finally made her space in the leading team. Corie has also championed Best Buy’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility commitment.

She has led efforts to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, increase diversity and inclusion, and support community initiatives.

8. Julie Sweet – Accenture

Julie Sweet is an influential name in the industry. Julie is the recently appointed CEO of Accenture, a global company providing professional information technology consultation and services. The list of top CEOs is empty without the name of Julie Sweet.

Julie has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. Her strong and diverse academic background helped her contribute to IT and technology.

Julie has an estimated net worth of $61 million, showcasing the effort she put in all these years. This talented woman is gifted with many capabilities and experience in corporate law.

The remarkable success has listed Julie among the top CEOs in the world. Before joining Accenture, Julie worked with a well-known law firm, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, which became beneficial for her experience in the field.

Accenture has embraced digital change and focused on innovative solutions to help clients navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.

Julie has championed adopting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and analytics to drive business outcomes and enhance the value Accenture delivers to its clients.

9. Emma Walmsley – GlaxoSmithKline 

Emma Walmsley is a big name in the pharmaceutical industry. GlaxoSmithKline has been the world’s largest pharmaceutical enterprise serving people for the past few decades. As CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, Emma plays an efficient and influential role in the growth and productivity of the company.

Emma earned a Classics and Modern Languages degree from the University of Oxford. However, the professional experience of Emma is quite diverse and interesting; for instance, she has experience in marketing, strategic planning, and general management, which have contributed to her success in the pharmaceutical industry.

Having a net worth of $3 million, Emma is one of the most talented women to excel in the industry of pharmaceuticals.

Emma has tried to strengthen GSK’s research and development capabilities, particularly in oncology, immunology, and respiratory diseases.

She has prioritized collaboration and strategic partnerships, seeking to leverage expertise and accelerate the development of new treatments and therapies.

10. Alison Rose – NatWest Group

NatWest is the largest banking organization in the United Kingdom, and Alison Rose leads it with potential and innovation. Alison Rose is one of the richest CEOs in the world. This talented and influential woman is a mentor figure for many.

The finance corporation thanks Alison for her contributions to the industry. Alison has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the London Business School.

Alison excels in banking because of her experience with NatWest and other banking sectors. Alison Rose’s achievements in the financial services industry are remarkable. Before obtaining the CEO role at NatWest Group in 2019, she held several key positions.

Rose deeply understands the banking sector, having led various divisions, including Commercial and Private Banking.

Conclusion 

These women are the icon and mentors for females around the world. They bypass the idea of independence, financial growth, women empowerment, and gender equality.

They achieved these names by struggling day and night. However, they all have one thing in common; education. These ladies’ biographies prove that education is the key to success.

As chief executive officer, senior vice president, business administration and executive vice president, these visionary leaders have steered their organizations to unprecedented success, while also serving as powerful role models for aspiring women in the corporate world.

Furthermore, their impressive accomplishments demonstrate the crucial role that female leadership plays within the parent company, inspiring a new generation of businesswomen to strive for excellence and break through glass ceilings.

We should envy the net worth and contemplate the resilience, struggle, hard work, and patience they all observed in their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q: How are female CEOs contributing to gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

A: Female CEOs are extremely important in spreading gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace. People tend to presume them as role models and advocates for other women. They are breaking all the norms and traditions of the societies and implying women’s empowerment in the institutions. Due to female CEOs, other women are more welcomed in leadership positions.

Q: What are some challenges female CEOs face in the corporate world?

A: Female CEOs face different challenges in the corporate world. These challenges include gender bias and stereotypes, limited representation in administrative leadership positions, unequal access to opportunities and resources, and balancing work and family responsibilities. Society believes that women are only made for home responsibilities. However, a professional working lady has to give two duties of a mother/wife and then an employee, whereas a working man is not obliged.

Q: How many female CEOs are there in Fortune 500 companies?

A: The number of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies can change yearly. As of my knowledge, 41 female CEOs are leading Fortune 500 companies. It is worth noting that the representation of female CEOs in the Fortune 500 has been increasing gradually over the years. However, there is still progress in achieving gender parity in executive leadership positions.

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