The corporate glass ceiling is showing signs of cracking as more women rise to the helm of Fortune 500 companies.
While the number of women CEOs in these giants is still outnumbered by men, their presence is making an impact.
Here are 10 remarkable women CEOs who lead Fortune 500 companies, ranked by their 2022 revenue.
These trailblazers represent diverse industries, from technology to finance, and are reshaping the corporate landscape.
Highlights:
- Women CEOs, though a minority, are making strides in leading major corporations.
- Diverse industries witness female leadership, challenging gender norms.
- These CEOs often feature on Forbes’ and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women lists.
- Some have maintained their positions from 2021, while others have ascended the ranks.
Join us as we celebrate these influential women reshaping the business world.
| Rank | CEO | Company | Fortune 500 Rank in 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Karen Lynch | CVS Health | 4 |
| 2️⃣ | Rosalind Brewer | Walgreens Boots Alliance | 18 |
| 3️⃣ | Gail Boudreaux | Elevance Health (formerly Anthem) | 20 |
| 4️⃣ | Mary Barra | General Motors | 25 |
| 5️⃣ | Carol Tomé | United Parcel Service (UPS) | 34 |
| 6️⃣ | Jane Fraser | Citigroup | 44 |
| 7️⃣ | Corie Barry | Best Buy | 68 |
| 8️⃣ | Tricia Griffith | Progressive | 79 |
| 9️⃣ | Thasunda Brown Duckett | TIAA | 90 |
| 🔟 | Safra Catz | Oracle | 91 |
What you'll learn:
1. Karen Lynch
CEO, CVS Health (CVS)
Karen Lynch took on the role of CEO in February 2021 after serving as the executive vice president of CVS Health and president of Aetna, the corporation’s insurance division. CVS is a global healthcare provider.
Karen Lynch holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking female CEO in the Fortune 500.
She is ranked 8th on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 list and holds the top position on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Business list.
2. Rosalind Brewer
CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
Rosalind Brewer, formerly the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Starbucks, assumed the role of CEO at Walgreens in 2021.
She is one of only three Black women and one of 41 women overall leading Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to her role at Starbucks, Brewer served as the President and CEO of Sam’s Club, becoming the first Black CEO of the company.
Rosalind Brewer is ranked 7th on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Business list and 13th on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 list.
3. Gail Boudreaux
CEO, Elevance Health (ELV), formerly Anthem
Gail Boudreaux has been the CEO of Elevance Health, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., since 2017.
Under her leadership, the company’s stock increased by more than 70% in her initial four years as CEO.
Prior to this, she served as the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest division within UnitedHealth Group.
Gail Boudreaux is ranked 9th on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women list and 16th on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 list.
4. Mary Barra
CEO, General Motors (GM)
Mary Barra holds the distinction of being the first female CEO of General Motors, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. automobile industry.
She took the reins at GM in January 2014, following Daniel Akerson, who played a pivotal role in the company’s resurgence after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2011.
Barra is leading GM’s charge towards transitioning to electric vehicles by 2035.
She is ranked fourth on both Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women and Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 lists.
5. Carol Tomé
CEO, United Parcel Service (UPS)
Carol Tomé came out of retirement to become the CEO of UPS in June 2020, making her the first female CEO in the company’s history and the first not promoted from within.
Tomé previously served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Home Depot until her retirement in 2019.
She took charge of UPS during a critical period, focusing on planning logistics for the 2020 holiday season and COVID-19 vaccine deliveries.
Tomé is ranked 21st on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 list and holds the sixth position on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women list.
6. Jane Fraser
CEO, Citigroup (C)
Jane Fraser assumed the role of CEO at Citigroup in 2021, becoming the first female CEO of the bank and the first woman to lead a Wall Street bank.
She joined Citigroup in 2004 and held various executive positions, including CEO of Global Consumer Banking and President of Citigroup.
Fraser initiated a “refresh” strategy to simplify the bank’s operations and make them more efficient.
She is ranked 10th on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World 2022 list and third on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women list.
7. Corie Barry
CEO, Best Buy (BBY)
In 2019, Corie Barry assumed the role of CEO at Best Buy, making her the youngest CEO of a Fortune 100 company at that time.
Her career at Best Buy spans over two decades, with previous roles including Chief Financial and Strategic Transformation Officer and CFO.
Barry encourages embracing uncomfortable moments for personal and career growth.
She is ranked 18th among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women of 2022.
8. Tricia Griffith
CEO, Progressive (PGR)
Tricia Griffith took on the role of CEO at Progressive in 2016, following her previous positions as Personal Lines COO and Chief Human Resources Officer.
Progressive, a property and casualty insurance firm, reported over $47 billion in revenue in 2021.
Griffith has been instrumental in making Progressive a top-rated company in diversity and inclusion, with more than 20% of management comprising individuals from marginalized groups and approximately 45% being women. Notably, there is no gender pay gap at the company.
She is ranked 51st on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022 and 25th on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women of 2022 list.
9. Thasunda Brown Duckett
CEO, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA)
Thasunda Brown Duckett assumed the position of CEO at TIAA in February 2021. TIAA manages assets totaling more than $1 trillion.
She joins an elite group of Black women CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies, following in the footsteps of her predecessor Roger W. Ferguson Jr.
Prior to her role at TIAA, Duckett served as the CEO of Chase Consumer Banking.
Duckett was ranked 45th on Fortune’s 2022 Most Powerful Women and Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women lists for 2021.
In 2022, she advanced to the 11th position on Fortune’s list and the 37th position on Forbes’ list.
10. Safra Catz
CEO, Oracle (ORCL)
Safra Catz, formerly Oracle’s CFO, became one of the company’s CEOs in 2014, sharing the position with Lawrence Ellison, who later stepped down.
After the passing of co-CEO Mark Hurd in 2019, Catz became the sole CEO of the tech giant.
Under her leadership, Oracle has executed an aggressive acquisition strategy, completing more than 130 acquisitions.
Catz holds a triple crown, being listed as number 19 on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women 2022, Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022, and Forbes’ America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2022 lists.
☞ Top Women CEOs FAQ
Who Is the Most Famous Woman Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
Arguably the most renowned woman CEO is Karen Lynch, leading CVS Health, the fourth-largest Fortune 500 company with over $292 billion in revenue in 2021.
Other notable women CEOs include Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreen Boots Alliance, and Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors.
How Many CEOs Are Women?
By the close of 2022, Fortune 500 companies were led by 52 women CEOs, representing around 10% of the total.
This record-breaking year witnessed the ascension of two Black women CEOs, one transgender CEO, and one CEO among the top five largest companies.
Which Companies Have Women CEOs?
As of the end of 2022, some of the largest Fortune 500 firms helmed by women CEOs are CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, General Motors, Anthem, Citigroup, United Parcel Service, Best Buy, Progressive, TIAA, and Oracle.
How Many Black Women CEOs Are There?
In May 2022, two Black women held the position of CEO at Fortune 500 companies.
Rosalind Brewer leads Walgreens Boots Alliance, the 18th-largest company by revenue, while Thasunda Brown Duckett is the CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), ranking 90th on the list.
