2025 Women CEOs in America Report
Executive Summary
About this report
Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is proud to release the 5th Annual Women CEOs in America Report detailing the status of women CEOs across the business landscape.
In the first section, as with past years, we are reporting the representation of women CEOs, going behind and beyond the numbers to tell a deeper story about what organizations and the women themselves are doing–and need to do–to advance more women to CEO roles.
Numbers at a Glance
| Index | 2025 Women CEOs (# & %) | 2024 Women CEOs (# & %) | 2023 Women CEOs (# & %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 55 (11%) | 52 (10.4%) | 52 (10.4%) |
| Fortune 1000 | 93 (9.3%) | 98 (9.8%) | |
| S&P 500 | 47 (9.4%) | 39 (7.8%) | 41 (8.2%) |
| Russell 3000 | 227 (7.6%) | 270 (9%) | 204 (6.8%) |
| Private Companies | 269 (8.6%) | 180 (7.2%) | 79 (3.3%) |
Detailed analysis, figures, and findings are captured in the pages that follow.
In the second section we highlight this year’s theme, “Field to Fortune: Athletics and Women CEO Leadership,” offering new analysis that builds on existing research to explore the connection between women’s executive leadership and athletic participation as a pathway to corporate success. This theme also aligns with WBC’s In the Arena Initiative, which bridges sports and business to advance women into leadership, strengthen organizational performance, and shape a more inclusive future workforce in the sports industry.
Major Takeaways:
- The number of Women CEOs is holding steady, with women CEOs averaging 9.2% of CEOs across the Fortune 1000, S&P 500, Russell 3000, and Private Companies.
- 10.2% of Women CEOs have an athletic background at a collegiate or elite level.
- Close to two-thirds (62%) of athlete-CEOs are concentrated in healthcare, consumer goods, and technology — sectors defined by performance, adaptability, and constant innovation.
Now More Than Ever:
These 10 Accelerators for driving women into CEO roles must take center stage
In our inaugural report, we introduced Ten Accelerators to guide this work. Today, we once again invite senior leaders to act on these commitments:
1. Recognize women’s experience, talent, and acumen to be CEOs
2. Turn to Board leaders for commitment and recognition for women in the pipeline
3. Create shareholder and stakeholder value
4. Sponsor and advocate for women leaders
5. Advocate for women of color
6. Celebrate and affirm the men who are driving results
7. Use successful women CEO role models as examples and advocates
8. Pay equal or better compensation
9. Search firms include women in their slates
10. Join women’s organizations focused on position, pay and power for all women
Keep these accelerators in mind as you read through this report. If each of us takes deliberate action, we can significantly move the needle, ensuring that the number of diverse women CEOs grows not only steadily but at an increasingly rapid pace.
WBC is unwaveringly committed to these accelerators and to all initiatives that accelerate the advancement of women to CEO roles, including active support of girls and women in all aspects of sports. Hope you will be too.
As always, change is #FasterTogether.