Among this year’s honorees are Black women leading major companies and institutions across retirement services, investment management, retail, chemicals, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure—industries that sit at the center of global capital flows and essential supply chains: Thasunda Brown Duckett, Mellody Hobson, Mpumi Madisa, Mary Vilakazi, Latriece Watkins, Karen S. Carter, and Joi Harris.
While Black women remain underrepresented in the highest levels of corporate leadership, this year’s group occupies roles with significant operational and financial scale, overseeing businesses that manage trillions in assets, run complex global manufacturing systems, and power critical infrastructure networks.
Meet the women:
On last year’s Fortune 500 list, the company generated $46.9 billion in revenue.
She joined Ariel in the early 1990s and rose through the organization over more than two decades, building experience in equity research, portfolio management, and client strategy as the firm expanded its footprint in global markets. Recently, she’s staked out a leadership position in women’s sports, launching the $1 billion sports investment vehicle Project Level.
She joined Bidvest in 2003 and spent more than a decade rising through the organization across procurement, services, and operations, steadily expanding her leadership across both commercial and operational functions before becoming CEO in 2019.
Mary Vilakazi made history in April 2024 when she became the first woman to serve as CEO of FirstRand Group, one of Africa’s largest financial institutions.
Before climbing the ranks at MMI Holdings and eventually becoming CEO of FirstRand, Vilakazi was one of PwC’s youngest global partners at just 27.
A more than 30-year veteran of Dow, Carter has held leadership roles across operations, human resources, sales, marketing, and business strategy, giving her broad experience at the $40 billion materials science giant.
Collectively, this year’s Black women honorees reflect a cross-section of industries that underpin the global economy—from retirement security and investment management to industrial manufacturing and energy infrastructure. While their paths differ, each leads organizations defined by scale, complexity, and operational reach.
