Top 20 Outstanding Women CEOs of 2024

Today, Akuyoe Graham, Founder & CEO of Spirit Awakening, received a very kind note from a colleague in which she said she would try to bring some of what she’d “absorbed” from Akuyoe’s model of womanhood, activism, and leadership that puts “we before me.” “I was humbled and moved by her statement as I had not been expecting a review of my character. Qualities that I try to emulate include compassion, generosity, forgiveness, authenticity, joy, beauty, integrity, dignity, strength and LOVE,” says Akuyoe.

With over three decades of experience in the precision welded steel tube industry, Angela Phillips, the CEO of Phillips Tube Group, has been a trailblazer in propelling the company to new heights. Her practical, forward-thinking approach has catapulted the company to the forefront in quality, service, and customer collaboration. Under her leadership, Phillips Tube Group has swiftly modernized its operations by introducing new technology and process advancements. Angela’s commitment to excellence among global manufacturers is unwavering, as she states, “Manufacturing is a critical part of the US economy. Our growth as a company is dependent on staying innovative and pressing for first in class processes to meet our market demand.”

With her background in Mental Health and Family and Child Sciences, Angeline Howell has accelerated Great Explorations Children’s Museum into a place where all families can come to learn and play no matter their abilities or socioeconomic status. Her ability to listen to members, employees, and community partners allowed Great Explorations to identify the community needs and how the mission of Great Explorations aligns. The bottom line, Angeline and her team want to help.

Arlene Sarkoyan, CEO and Senior Executive, S3H Inc., is more than a leader. For her, employee satisfaction is paramount because she knows that they are the company’s backbone. From providing free daily lunches for office employees to arranging for companywide get-togethers for field supervision and personnel during Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Labor Day, Arlene creates an environmentally friendly and sensitive workplace so that employees focus on being productive and therefore value their work attendance. She cares for people because she appreciates the hard work and dedication each employee puts into the company.While Arlene has enjoyed success and acceptance as a female leader in the male-dominated construction industry, although she owns 75% of the company stocks, she has not been accepted as a woman-owned enterprise. Despite the hurdles, S3H has succeeded and thrived as a significant woman-owned specialty contractor without being certified by an official agency.

As a woman CEO in a male-dominated industry for 40 years now, I have learned a myriad of lessons on how to be an effective leader. I have built my Shames Construction team from the ground up. I work with many men inside and outside of Shames Construction, and I give many of them eminence credit for my success, as they gave me many chances when a woman was a novelty in construction. I have a creative and analytical mind and have worked for years to quickly pivot my thoughts and plans for the company’s direction whenever the industry and world around us change. My background as an architect gives me a complete picture of the construction process from design through the implementation of design concepts.

Very few people truly exemplify and embody the essence of the credit union movement, “People Helping People,” like Christie L. Clark. This is how Christie leads ACT 1st Federal Credit Union and what she instills in each credit union team member. “To have Accountability to the “Not for Profit, But for People” code of conduct we increase awareness of the exceptional benefits of being a member of a credit union. Introducing and offering low-cost products and services that truly fulfill member financial needs continually builds Credibility as it relates to the credit union’s commitment to everyone’s on-going financial wellness. In doing so, members have learned to Trust ACT 1st Federal Credit Union.”

Dr. Elizabeth Harrison has a proven track-record in enterprise turnarounds, business development, public affairs and organizational empowerment, with a focus in the last two decades on the healthcare sector. Elizabeth assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer at MetaSystems Group Inc. (MGI) on April 1, 2018. MGI is the Boston-based subsidiary of MetaSystems Hard and Software GmbH, located near Heidelberg, Germany. MGI provides automated imaging platforms, advanced workflow management and the use of artificial intelligence for image assessment for Cytogenetics, Digital Pathology, Toxicology, Biodosimetry and Microbiology applications.

In the last four years, Emily Goodstein has built a successful, growing, values-focused business and she has learned more than a few lessons along the way. Emily is the Founder and CEO of Greater Good Strategy, which has grown from a one-woman shop into a team of more than 60 digital marketing and fundraising experts along with a badass 4-woman executive team specializing in research, fundraising strategy, content creation, graphic design, digital analysis, and more. Emily shared with us some of the key ingredients to her success as an entrepreneur and business owner. They’re lessons that every leader can learn from.

One of Jenni McKenna’s, Owner & CEO of McKenna Property, qualities that have made her a great leader is her dedication to customer service. She is always thinking about the level of customer service they provide to both the tenants and owners. When implementing new procedures and systems, a serious discussion is held between all team members on how they can leverage these additions to improve their customer service. “This results in most of our systems being oriented around the experience of the client and ensuring that they have nothing but pleasant thoughts of us. When owners and tenants leave reviews for McKenna Property Management saying that we have provided the best experience they have ever had with a property manager, I see that this focus on customer service is paying off.”

Julie Butner, President & CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank, takes a big-picture approach to finding meaningful ways to impact. She envisions ways for Tarrant Area Food Bank to address current issues facing the community while positioning innovative solutions to develop future solutions to address food insecurity. She encourages her team to approach challenges with a positive attitude and a “can-do” spirit that inspires creativity and results.

Dr. Kathryn Ritchie, CEO & Founder, Ignition Institute, has high energy, a wild curiosity and desire to continue to learn and grow, and a deep commitment to care and give back to the planet – to the individual, to the team, to the organization, to the community, and the globe. “I am not someone who seeks badges or accolades or acknowledgment, this comes from the results I experience, in the relationships I have and the work I do. I am focused on mobilizing and getting things done. I compete with myself and only myself to be better and better,” she says.

NAF’s design ignites students’ passion for learning. It allows businesses to play an active role in shaping America’s future workforce by transforming the learning environment into STEM-infused career-specific curricula and experiential learning experiences, including internships. Since 1980, NAF has been partnering with high-need communities to improve student outcomes by implementing NAF academies – small learning communities within existing high schools. Armed with four decades of experience and results, NAF continues to refine their work over time, ensuring that more and more students are impacted, and outcomes are achieved each year.

FutureCourse is a mission-centric, vision-inspired, “for-impact” organization that works to unlock leadership potential and career sustainability/growth/momentum, especially in women and other minorities. While many organizations are focusing on women who have made it to the top, FutureCourse aims at those who are developing, and often struggling, as emerging leaders. They target what McKinsey/LeanIN has called the “broken rung.” “For every 100 men promoted to management, only 72 white women will be promoted, only 68 women of color, and only 58 Latina women.” This setback shapes the rest of a woman’s career journey, often becoming the initial trigger that eventually ends a meaningful career.

A strong sense of belonging and a deep love for her country led Paola Federico to incorporate Event Planet in Italy. She knew the difficulties she had to face when establishing a business, yet she surged ahead with her determination and started the company from scratch.