When we think of CEO’s and leading figures in different industries, they often seem distant and inaccessible people. Their success and talent appears to be way out of anyone’s reach. It is true that these people are incredibly intelligent and hardworking, but it doesn’t mean that we cannot see them as role models and inspiring figures. We have looked at the top 5 Fortune 500 women CEO’s to get a better idea of the kind of people that they are and the lives that they have led prior to becoming dominant leaders in their respective industries. All of them have very interesting life stories and backgrounds that many other young people could learn a lot from.
Barra is the first ever female CEO of a large global automobile company. She has worked her way from the very bottom to where she is now – she started working with cars at the age of 18, inspecting people’s hoods and fender panels to help pay for her college tuition. Her sheer determination has led to her finishing university with a BSc in Engineering and then paving her way upwards to eventually dominate one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. One of the most inspirational fortune 500 women CEO’s!
As the first woman to head IBM, Rometty has demonstrated incredible talent and a great understanding of the industry. She has been featured in multiple publications, including Bloomberg, who named her among the 50 Most Influential People in the World. What’s more, in March this year TIME listed Rometty as the 6th most important person in tech. Her leadership skills have contributed to the growth and success of the company, and her knowledge of the industry has made her a respected woman CEO.
Nooyi successfully heads the well-known PepsiCo, which is the world’s second largest food and drinks business. Her expertise and knowledge have resulted in her consistently being ranked among the top 100 of the world’s most powerful women. Nooyi has worked very hard for her goals and has even obtained a postgraduate MBA to increase her understanding of the business world. As one of the leading figures in the industry, this woman CEO’s story demonstrates that determination really does pay off.
Yet another inspiring woman CEO with an incredible story to tell! Hewson is currently the CEO of Lockheed Martin, which is a major American defence and aerospace company. However, she is also a member of the board of directors of a number of different companies. In 2015, Forbes has named Hewson as the 20th most powerful woman in the world, recognising her achievements and the influence that she has on the industry. During her younger years, she has focused on studying business and economics to obtain in-depth knowledge of the best ways in which to manage and grow companies. Her commitment to her interests has helped to grow and develop into an influential female figure in the industry.
A leading businesswoman in the software industry, Whitman is the CEO of Hewlett Packard and a very influential female figure. She is also a philanthropist and a political activist, which demonstrates her wide interests and talents. At an earlier stage in her life, she ran for governor of California and has also worked as an executive at the Walt Disney Company. The wide range of activities that Whiman is involved in shows us that we can accomplish multiple things in life and don’t have to focus on a single goal.
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