It’s no secret that the business world is male-dominated. A 2015 report revealed that there were fewer female CEOs and business leaders than men named John.
The stories of women CEOs are often fascinating, and their success is inspiring. Learning about their progression up the ladder and path to building wealth can motivate any businessperson.
Here are the 10 powerhouse female CEOs redefining what it means to achieve success.
Get paid up to $225 a month while watching viral videos
Instead of sitting around watching viral videos on YouTube, you could be getting paid actual cash taking surveys for InboxDollars instead.
It's simple. You sign up here and confirm your email. Then you watch videos and take surveys. Then you earn cash (yes, actual cash … not "points"). Log in during your spare time and see how you can earn up to an extra $225 every month.
BONUS: Free $5 when you sign up, confirm your email and phone.
Sign up and start getting paid today
10. Carol Tomé
Carol Tomé is the first female CEO of UPS and made an estimated $19 million in 2022, a drop from her $27.6 million salary the year prior but still nothing to scoff at.
She was formerly the CFO of Home Depot before taking the role with UPS, which she came out of retirement to fulfill.
Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.
9. Kathy Warden
Another powerhouse woman CEO is Kathy Warden, who serves as both CEO and president of Northrop Grumman. She’s held the position since 2019, the same year she was named chairman of the Board of Directors.
She also shares her work history with Phebe Novakovic, having worked at General Dynamics. Warden made an estimated $20.7 million in the 2022 fiscal year.
8. Gail Boudreaux
Gail Boudreaux currently serves as the CEO of Elevance Health (formerly known as Anthem), but this is not her first time holding the position. Before taking on her current role in 2017, she was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
Ranked 14 on Forbes' Power Women list, Boudreaux made nearly $21 million in 2022. She holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth and a master's degree from Columbia.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
7. Lynn Good
Another high-paid female CEO is Lynn Good, the head of Duke Energy. Good, estimated to have made over $21 million in 2022, is a Miami University graduate and Duke Energy’s former CFO.
Good has made strides to invest in solar energy as Duke Energy’s CEO, following a trend of lowering carbon dioxide emission rates. The company is striving to reach net-zero emission rates by 2050.
6. Phebe Novakovic
Phebe Novakovic got her start as a CIA operative before eventually taking over as General Dynamics in 2013. Her net worth as of 2023 was an estimated $260 million, and she makes an estimated $23.55 million annually.
The Virginia native holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, she spearheaded the acquisition of CSRA, worth $9.8 billion.
Trending Stories
5. Jane Fraser
Jane Fraser, the CEO of Citigroup, also made Forbes’ Power Women list, ranking seventh. She took the role of CEO in 2021 and is not only the company’s first female to fill the position but the first woman to head up a Wall Street bank.
Fraser has been with Citi since 2004 and raked in an estimated $24.5 million in total in 2022.
4. Adena Friedman
Adena Friedman is the CEO of Nasdaq. She joined the company as an intern in 1993, rehired in 2014 as CFO, and promoted to CEO in 2017. She's estimated to make $28 million per year.
Friedman's drive as CEO has been to modernize the company, including advocating for companies going public, investing in tech, and being transparent about diversity.
Her master's degree is in Business Administration and was obtained at the Owen Graduate School of Management.
3. Mary Barra
Mary Barra is the CEO of General Motors (GM) and makes an estimated $29 million per year. Barra also took over as CEO in 2014. In doing so, she became the first woman to head up a major automotive company.
The Stanford School of Business graduate has worked with GM since the 1980s and participated in a student co-op before that. Barra recently came under fire after a controversial response to the UAW strike.
2. Lisa Su
Lisa Su is one of the highest-paid female CEOs. The Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) bigwig is not only one of the highest-paid CEOs of her gender but also made a reported $13 million more than the highest-paid male CEO in an AP survey. In 2022 she made over $30 million.
Su took over as AMD’s CEO in 2014 after having been with the company for two years, increasing her capital and the company’s stock. Her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. were all earned at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
1. Julie Sweet
Julie Sweet has served as Accenture’s CEO since 2019. Previously, she served as the company’s general counsel and North American head.
She ranked number 11 on Forbes’ Power Women list in 2023 and was on the 50 over 50 Investment list in 2022. The Maryland native was estimated to have made a little over $31 million in 2023.
Bottom line
As the business world becomes more expansive and diversified, it’s inspiring to see the women who have paved the path that others may take in the future.
The top female CEOs come from unique financial, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds. Yet, each has established a place for women in the business world to climb the corporate ladder and get ahead financially.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.
Author Details