Meet the Black women on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list shaping business leadership

Fortune released its 29th annual Most Powerful Women in Business list this week, honoring 100 female executives shaping key sectors of the global economy, including finance, retail, energy, technology, manufacturing, and media.

Among this year’s honorees are Black women leading major companies and institutions across retirement services, investment management, retail, chemicals, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure—industries that sit at the center of global capital flows and essential supply chains: Thasunda Brown Duckett, Mellody Hobson, Mpumi Madisa, Mary Vilakazi, Latriece Watkins, Karen S. Carter, and Joi Harris.

While Black women remain underrepresented in the highest levels of corporate leadership, this year’s group occupies roles with significant operational and financial scale, overseeing businesses that manage trillions in assets, run complex global manufacturing systems, and power critical infrastructure networks. 

Thasunda Brown Duckett (No. 7), president and CEO, TIAA

Thasunda Brown Duckett is president and CEO of TIAA, one of the largest retirement-focused financial services firms in the United States, overseeing more than $1 trillion in assets and serving millions of customers.

Duckett is one of only two—soon to be three—Black women currently serving as a Fortune 500 CEO.

She took on the role in 2021 after a long career at JPMorgan Chase, where she spent 17 years in senior leadership positions, including CEO of Chase........

© Fortune