Mary Barra, Julie Sweet, and Jane Fraser lead the charge as Fortune honors 100 global female executives redefining corporate leadership
Fortune has released its much-anticipated 2025 list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business, spotlighting the top female executives transforming industries, steering multinational corporations, and shaping the future of the global economy. Now in its 28th year, the list reflects a dynamic shift in leadership trends and celebrates women whose innovation, resilience, and strategic vision are making a lasting impact.
Published on May 20, the annual ranking features executives from sectors as diverse as technology, finance, healthcare, energy, and retail. Of the 100 honorees, 52 are based in the United States, while 48 represent companies across 19 different countries, highlighting the increasingly international scope of female influence in business leadership.
Mary Barra Reclaims Top Spot
At the helm of this year’s list is General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra, who claims the top position for the second consecutive year and fifth time overall. Barra’s leadership in guiding GM through the complexities of labor strikes, persistent supply chain disruptions, and the industry-wide shift to electric vehicles has cemented her status as a defining force in modern automotive leadership.
Barra has notably led GM’s aggressive push into electric mobility, aiming to make the company all-electric by 2035. Her adept handling of high-stakes negotiations and vision for sustainable automotive solutions has earned her praise across the board.
Accenture and Citigroup CEOs in the Spotlight
Right behind Barra are Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser. Sweet, known for her efforts to transform Accenture into a cloud-first company, has overseen major acquisitions and redefined the consulting firm’s role in global digital transformation.
Fraser, the first woman to head a major Wall Street bank, continues to navigate Citigroup through restructuring and cost-cutting measures while pushing forward initiatives in digital banking and inclusive finance. Her leadership is viewed as a bold reimagining of what traditional banking institutions can achieve in an increasingly decentralized financial world.
Methodology Reflects Evolving Priorities
Fortune’s updated evaluation methodology for 2025 assesses honorees across six core criteria: the size and health of the woman’s business, her career trajectory, influence over the company and broader industry, innovation, and efforts to improve business practices and culture. These metrics emphasize not just financial success, but also strategic foresight and values-driven leadership.
With more than 50 women currently leading Fortune 500 companies, only 20 made it onto the list, underscoring the increasingly competitive nature of the ranking.
New Entrants and International Influence
This year’s list welcomes several notable newcomers, including Tan Su Shan, CEO of Singapore’s DBS Bank, who is lauded for her groundbreaking work in digital banking and commitment to green finance. Under her direction, DBS has become a pioneer in sustainability initiatives across Asia.
Apple’s Deirdre O’Brien also returns to the list, marking her seventh appearance. As Senior Vice President of Retail + People, O’Brien has overseen a massive global expansion of Apple Stores and spearheaded efforts to reshape the company’s workforce strategy in the post-pandemic world.
Executives from France, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea are among those representing a growing wave of global female leadership. Their inclusion showcases how corporate power is being reshaped by cultural and economic shifts worldwide.
Women Reshaping Business
From pioneering biotech executives to trailblazing fintech founders, the women featured on Fortune’s 2025 list are not only driving profit but also rewriting the playbook on corporate leadership. They are spearheading ESG initiatives, leveraging AI and emerging technologies, and actively promoting diversity and inclusion within their organizations.
Their collective influence underscores a crucial trend: modern business success increasingly hinges on adaptive, inclusive, and globally-minded leadership. The honorees’ ability to blend profitability with purpose is shaping new benchmarks for what it means to be powerful in today’s business landscape.
