IWD 2024: My Top 10 List of Accomplished Women

In recognition of International Women’s Day, I thought about the women who made a big impression on me this past year and who are great examples of what strong women are accomplishing today.? It was tough for me because there were so many amazing women to consider, but I did come up with my own top 10 list for this year.? This list excludes the women who are close to me (there will be a special post for them).? Here is my list in no particular order… ??

Mira Murati

As a researcher and technology developer she contributed to key work on Electric Vehicles (Tesla Model X) and Augmented Reality (Leap Motion) but is now sitting at the center of what is likely the most significant area of technology development in generations—Artificial Intelligence—as the CTO of OpenAI.? She is proving that technology is not just for men. ???

?

Greta Gerwig

She came up in the business as an actor and writer in the independent-film scene, but in 2023 she clearly broke out as a major filmmaker as the director and co-writer of Barbie, which was the biggest movie of the year (grossing more than $1.4 billion at the box office) and the highest-grossing film ever directed by a woman.? She is helping break some major barriers in Hollywood.

Taylor Swift

She has made groundbreaking accomplishments time and time again as arguably one of the most successful musicians of our time, but has also shown to be an amazing entrepreneur, a marketing genius and a very savvy individual in the music business.? She is single handedly reshaping the music industry.

Liz Cheney

While everyone may not agree with her politics and policy positions, she is a very accomplished and brave politician that has a strong moral compass and is willing to stand up to very powerful men to speak the truth.? She is risking her political career to do the right thing.

Ursula von der Leyen

Trained as a physician with a degree in economics, she is a powerful politician that has built an impressive resume in government—from serving fourteen years in the German federal government as a member of Angela Merkel’s cabinet to ascending to become the president of the European Commission (EU).? She is one politician that is getting things done.

Coco Gauff

While still just a teenager, she is already an accomplished professional tennis player that has won seven WTA Tour singles titles including winning the 2023 US Open—the youngest to win the tournament since Serena Williams did so almost 25 years ago.? She is someone chasing perfection in her sport and doing so with great poise and composure for someone so young. ?

Cole Brauer

An accomplished professional sailor that recently made history by becoming the first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world as part of the Global Solo Challenge—and who was the youngest of more than a dozen sailors who competed in the challenge.? She clearly defines what focused, committed and brave means.

Adena Friedman

Serving as the CEO of Nasdaq since 2017 (and the first woman to lead a global stock exchange), she has significantly shaped Nasdaq’s transformation into a leading global exchange—while also serving as a director for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and ‘oh by the way’ has a black belt in Tae kwon do. She is a trusted leader and voice in the financial markets.

Thasunda Brown Duckett

She is the President and CEO of TIAA, and one of the few Black women leaders in the Fortune 500, who leads an organization that provides financial retirement services for millions of Americans—while also serving on the boards of Nike, Brex, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization and Sesame Workshop.? She is someone to keep a close eye on as she will likely go very far.

??

MacKenzie Scott

As one of the wealthiest women in the world, with a stake in Amazon and other assets worth more than $35 billion, she has proven to be one of the most important and generous philanthropists of our time—giving away over $14 billion to more than 1,600 charitable organization (at last count).? She is someone making a tremendous impact for good in the world.

When I look at this list, I realize that I have done relatively little. I clearly need to step up MY game!! ;->