Black Enterprise ( BE) President & CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. announced the publication’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America, as featured in the magazine’s February 2015 cover story. The final roster was culled from thousands of potential candidates across numerous industries, including the finance, pharmaceutical, and retail sectors. The final 50 have authority over budgets totaling billions of dollars and control subsidiaries, divisions, or departments that affect the fiscal health and direction of their businesses.
“Our editorial team developed this list to not only celebrate the black female business elite,” said President and CEO of Black Enterprise Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. “but to demonstrate that it requires unparalleled expertise and resilience to break through barriers that female executives continue to face today.”
According to a 2014 Center for American Progress study, the percentage of women in top management positions and on corporate boards has stalled: Less than 9% of top managers are women, and women of color hold only 11.9% of managerial and professional posts with just 5.3% of African American women in those positions. Despite this wide gap within the executive suite, the 50 women identified by Black Enterprise are among a select group of corporate leaders who continue to raise and shatter the glass ceiling.
The 50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America:
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, EVP & Treasurer–Walmart Stores Inc.
Lilicia Bailey, EVP & Chief People Officer–Belk Inc.
Alicia Boler-Davis, SVP, Global Connected Customer Experience–General Motors
Rosalind G. Brewer, President & CEO, Sam’s Club–Walmart Stores Inc.
Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO, Chase Auto Finance–JPMorgan Chase
Glynis Bryan, CFO– Insight Enterprises Inc.
Ursula M. Burns, Chairman & CEO–Xerox Corp.
Ann-Marie Campbell, President, Southern Division–The Home Depot Inc.
Pamela Carter, President, Distribution Business–Cummins Inc.
Dedra N. Castle, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer–Rite Aid Corp.
Bernice Clark, SVP, Marketing Operations & Campaign Planning–Macy’s Inc.
Edith W. Cooper, EVP & Global Head of Human Capital Management–The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Laree R. Daniel, SVP & Chief Administrative Officer, Administrative Operations–Aflac
Jerri DeVard, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer–The ADT Corp.
Lori Dickerson Fouché, CEO, Prudential Group Insurance–Prudential Financial Inc.
Debbie Dyson, Corporate Vice President, Client Experience and Continuous Improvement–ADP L.L.C.
Esi Eggleston Bracey, VP & General Manager, Global Cosmetics–Procter & Gamble
Amy Ellis-Simon, Head of Global Corporate Access, Global Research–Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Felicia J. Fields, Group Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services–Ford Motor Co.
Tamara Franklin, EVP, Digital–Scripps Networks Interactive Inc.
Mirian Graddick-Weir, EVP, Human Resources–Merck & Co.
Marion K. Gross, SVP, Supply Chain Management, North America and U.S. Sustainability, McDonald’s USA –McDonald’s Corp.
Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management & Managing Director & Senior Client Advisor– Morgan Stanley
Lara Jordan James, VP, Brand Strategy–MassMutual Financial Group
Melissa E. James, Global Head of Loan Products Group–Morgan Stanley
Lisa Jeffries Caldwell, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer–Reynolds American Inc.
Myrtle Jones, SVP, Tax–Halliburton
Suzan B. Kereere, SVP & GM, National Client Group, Global Merchant Services–American Express Co.
Gale V. King, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer–Nationwide Insurance Co.
Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO, BET Networks–Viacom Inc.
Michelle Y. Lee, President, Community Banking, Eastern Region–Wells Fargo & Co.
Freda C. Lewis-Hall, M.D., Chief Medical Officer & EVP–Pfizer Inc.
Cynthia Marshall, SVP, Human Resources–AT&T
Glenda G. McNeal, EVP & GM, Global Client Group–American Express Co.
Corlis D. Murray, SVP, Quality Assurance, Regulatory and Engineering Services–Abbott Laboratories
Lisa Opoku, COO, Securities Division Asia Pacific–The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Richelle Parham, VP & Chief Marketing Officer, eBay North America–eBay Inc.
Debbie Roberts, President, Northeast Zone, McDonald’s USA–McDonald’s Corp.
Michelle A. Robinson, President, Southeast Region–Verizon Communications Inc.
Brenda Ross-Dulan, EVP & Regional President, Southern New Jersey–Wells Fargo & Co.
Coretha M. Rushing, Chief Human Resources Officer–Equifax Inc.
Susan Somersille Johnson, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer–SunTrust Banks Inc.
Colleen Taylor, EVP & Head of Treasury Management and Enterprise Payments, Market President, Brooklyn & Queens–Capital One
Sharon C. Taylor, SVP, Human Resources–Prudential
Tracey T. Travis, EVP & CFO–The Estee Lauder Cos. Inc .
Kathy N. Waller, CFO & EVP–The Coca-Cola Co.
Robin L. Washington, EVP & CFO–Gilead Sciences Inc.
Teresa L. White, President, Aflac U.S.–Aflac
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, EVP & Global Chief Human Resources Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. –Walgreen Co.
Mary A. Winston, EVP & CFO–Family Dollar Stores Inc.
Profiles of select executives on the 50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America listing are available in the February 2015 issue of Black Enterprise, currently available on digital newsstands.
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