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Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Forbes 2025 50 Over 50: Meet The Women Who Define Innovation, Drive And Hope
T he women on the 2025 50 Over 50 list have heard the words 'no,' 'don't,' and 'you' can't' more times than they can count. Saira Malik was told she wasn't cut out for a career in investing because she didn't play golf. Halle Berry was warned against doing a movie called 'Monster's Ball,' and later advised not to discuss her personal health journey. Alice Wong was born with spinal muscular atrophy and told she wouldn't reach adulthood. Today, Malik is the chief investment officer for Nuveen, overseeing a business with over $1 trillion in assets under management. Berry's role in 'Monster's Ball' earned her a Best Actress Academy Award—and speaking out about her health has opened up a second act as an entrepreneur. Wong not only survived childhood but, as an adult, founded the Disability Visibility Project, which in 2024 earned her a MacArthur 'genius' grant. In order of appearance: Cliff Watts for Forbes; Rebecca Miller for Forbes (2); Jamel Toppin for Forbes Malik, Berry and Wong are also three of the 200 new faces on the fifth annual Forbes 50 Over 50 list—a fresh collection of entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and wealth-builders whose work touches every corner of the U.S. Produced in partnership with MSNBC co-host Mika Brzezinski and her Know Your Value initiative and first launched in 2021, the 50 Over 50 continues to highlight women who are creating their greatest professional impact in their sixth, seventh and eighth decades (and beyond). The list is divided into four broad categories—impact, innovation, investment and lifestyle. Within each are dozens of sub-sectors, including aerospace, biotech, cryptocurrency and even pet food and cosmetics. And while the founders and CEOs on the list might differ in their subject-matter expertise, they are united—more than ever before—in the call to address what Martin Luther King, Jr., first called 'the fierce urgency of now.' Consider the issue of climate change: Worsening natural disasters have cost the U.S. $140 billion a year for the last decade and caused thousands of fatalities in that time. Karen Clark, now 68, founded a catastrophic risk modeling company in 1987 that today maps some $100 trillion in total risk exposure across America's buildings and homes. Meanwhile, 60-year-old Ada Monzón is Puerto Rico's first female meteorologist and a lifeline to the island's 3 million residents when Category 4 and 5 hurricanes begin to brew in the Caribbean. Or the issue of home ownership and wealth inequality: The top 10% of U.S. households currently hold two-thirds of all household wealth, according to the St. Louis Fed. Thasunda Brown Duckett, 52 and the CEO of retirement savings juggernaut TIAA, watched her father miss out on three decades of a company match because he didn't contribute to his 401(k). Brown Duckett is using her position of influence to increase retirement savings literacy and prevent this fate for others. Priscilla Almodovar, 58, is the first woman to lead the $4.3 trillion Fannie Mae and has become a leading voice on the national housing affordability crisis, made worse by stubbornly high interest rates. Suma Krishnan, 60, is one of several biotech founders on the list who are developing breakthrough solutions for diseases that collectively affect millions of people around the globe. When Krishnan and her husband (her cofounder) took their company, Krystal Biotech, public in 2017, it was worth $50 million. Today, boosted by gene therapy patents that hold answers for a rare skin disease and cystic fibrosis, the company is worth more than $4 billion. 'I came here as an immigrant when I was 20 years old to go to grad school, pretty poor with nothing… I would never have imagined that I would have a drug approved with my own company, with my own IP, not in a million years,' Krishnan told Forbes . 'But I am a fighter, and if I have a will, I'll make it happen.' Unearthing the stories of Krishnan, Almodovar, Monzón and their list counterparts is a five-month research and reporting process that begins in March by soliciting nominations from the general public. Those submissions—we've received thousands since this list first launched—are then analyzed and supplemented by reporting from beat journalists at Forbes and Know Your Value. It's not enough to simply be one of the 65 million women in America who are over the age of 50; the teams look for individuals demonstrating impact at scale, fearless pivots and work that improves the lives of every person in the U.S., in one way or another. 50 Over 50: 2025 Our fifth annual list of 200 women who are redefining what's possible in life's second half. VIEW THE FULL LISTT From this vetting emerges a smaller list of 500 contenders who undergo an extensive round of fact-checking and tire-kicking. Expert judges (list alumnae Alka Joshi, Kathy Ko Chin, Mally Roncal and seven others helped this year) are consulted. Debate ensues. The final result? A collection of women whose hard-won wisdom, experience and courage has given them a fearlessness with which to attack their missions. They're not blind to the systemic challenges that continue to impede their ability to gain funding from the private and public sectors. They know that market volatility and regulatory whiplash can throw wrenches into their well-laid plans. But they also trust their intellect, intuitions and ability to withstand any scenario. 'This work is bold, urgent, and absolutely not for the faint of heart,' says Chéri Smith, the 56-year-old founder and CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, which works to bring economic and environmental benefits to indigenous communities through generating solar power. But, she says, 'Being over 50 has given me superpowers. It has sharpened my focus and deepened my resolve. I move with understanding and purpose, not fear.' Or, as Halle Berry—who's broken 10 bones while filming movies and is now entering the bruising world of entrepreneurship—puts it: 'Fighting is in my blood. I'm not afraid of fighting. It doesn't scare me one bit.' More from Forbes Forbes 50 Over 50 Global: 2025 By Maggie McGrath Forbes Meet The Judges For The 2024 50 Over 50 List By Maggie McGrath Forbes The Age Of Disruption: Meet The 50 Over 50 2023 By Maggie McGrath
Forbes
6 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
Why The Non-Linear Career Path Is Your Friend—And Other Advice From The 50 Over 50
T he Forbes 50 Over 50 list showcases what it means to find success on your own terms, in your own time. The 200 women on this year's list are thriving in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond as they launch companies, lead boardrooms, engineer breakthroughs and start movements. Some steadily climbed ladders to get to where they are today. Others built their own. And many used their positions of power to help others climb, too. Along the way, each blazed a trail that earned them the kind of wisdom that's impossible to shortcut. Now, with time as their teacher and success on their side, we asked the women on this year's list what they might say if they could sit down with their younger selves. Their responses offer salient reminders to give yourself more grace, to take bigger leaps and trust that the non-linear path just might be the one you were always meant to follow. Here's a sampling of what they told us: courtesy Maribel Pérez Wadsworth 'You have to create your own turn. Young people—and especially young women and people of color—are so often told that they're not ready for the next thing, the big promotion, that it isn't their turn. I wanted to be a reporter, but when I tried out for my high school paper, the teacher told me it wasn't my turn—even though I was a senior, so it would never be my turn. When I applied for a leadership job early in my career, the boss took my aside and told me it wasn't my turn. But soon I realized that I had the power to create my turn. I'd tell young me that she can always create her turn—by doing the work, by learning and improving, by always raising her hand, even when she may not feel she's ready.' courtesy Jo Cato 'Be brave. The unfamiliar will shape you more than the familiar ever could. You left your home country as a young woman with just $20 in your pocket and no family waiting on the other side. That wasn't just a move—it was a leap of faith. And while the loneliness will sting and the setbacks will test you, know this: your courage will open doors not just for you, but for countless others who will rise because you dared to go first. Don't shrink to survive. Expand to lead. Your difference is your advantage.' courtesy Lisa Suennen Lisa Suennen 59 | Managing Partner, American Heart Association Ventures 'Always take the job where you like the people. In the end, there is no clear career path, only great people along a path that reveals itself along the way.'Kelly Bishop 81 | Actor, Author 'Don't give up. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. I often hear from young people whose parents tell them not to pursue something because it isn't secure. Do it anyway. Try it. Find a way.' courtesy Vicki Sato Vicki Sato 77 | Chair, VirBiotechnology 'Learn languages, at least one modern and useful one. It broadens one's worldview.' courtesy Jen Zeszut Jen Zeszut 53 | Cofounder & CEO, Goodles 'Your kiddos are going to turn out OK. Working so hard while they are little and missing so many field trips and school plays is NOT messing them up for life! All three kids will grow up striving to find some kind of work or life purpose that fills them with as much joy and passion as they saw their mom bring to her work. (In fact, one is going to follow your footsteps and start a bunch of little companies all before the age of 20!)' courtesy Amy Weaver Amy Weaver 58 | CEO, Direct Relief 'Don't cling too hard to the career path you think you should follow, or focus only on the next logical step up the ladder. Embrace the jumps to the side. You may feel like you are zigzagging, but with each non-linear move, you will gain new skills, meet new people, and collect experiences – these will be your building blocks. When I think about the most pivotal moments in my own career, not one of them was a straightforward promotion or an obvious next step. Each transition was either a lateral move to a new field or location or sometimes even a step backward to create a longer runway. And now as I look back, it feels like I've been climbing in a straight line to exactly where I am meant to be.' Christopher Willard/ABC/Getty Images Vanna White 68 | Co-host, Wheel of Fortune 'Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. It can happen.' courtesy Mackenzie Stroh Alexis McGill Johnson 52 | President & CEO, Planned Parenthood 'Trust yourself to lead. Don't just step into power, step and stand in it fully. The work is long, but the line for leadership is short. Seize each moment of leadership with all the power that you have. Don't be tentative—just drive it like you stole it!' courtesy Elyce Arons Elyce Arons 62 | Cofounder & CEO, Frances Valentine 'Don't smoke cigarettes.' courtesy Victoria Coleman Victoria Coleman 65 | CEO, Acubed 'Party more. I've probably only been to one real party. And pick your bets.' More from Forbes Forbes 50 Over 50 Global: 2025 By Maggie McGrath Forbes Meet The Judges For The 2024 50 Over 50 List By Maggie McGrath Forbes The Age Of Disruption: Meet The 50 Over 50 2023 By Maggie McGrath
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Dialogues strengthen Unity women's role in peace and security
In South Sudan, entrenched patriarchal norms and the effects of years of conflict continue to hinder women from participating in peacebuilding and governance. Early marriages, widespread gender-based violence, and exclusion from decision-making remain real hurdles for the implementation of their substantially increased and meaningful inclusion in matters that matter. The slow progress does not, however, deter women in Unity State from advocating for their rights and building informal networks of influence at the grassroots level. Some, like the young teacher Elizabeth Nyatab, are prepared to play the long game - if that is what it takes. 'I encourage parents to educate their daughters, because without schooling, it will be difficult also for future generations of women to play prominent roles in decision-making, We have no choice but to break the cultural norms that confine many of us to the domestic sphere,' she said. In fact, Ms. Nyatab made her point on behalf of a group of women leaders representing local authorities, state institutions and civil society groups. Together, they, and other similar small groups, were presenting their findings resulting from discussions on how to increase women's real participation in peace, security and other processes of public interest. Of much such interest are South Sudan's first post-independence elections, another subject that sparked lively debate during a week of civic engagement activities in Bentiu, Rubkona and Rotriak/Lalop. While many saw elections as a path to legitimacy and stability, others voiced concerns about prevailing insecurity and political divisions. 'If our country wants credible elections, political detainees must be released and the army united under one national command. Conditions for the free and fair participation for all are also essential for this dream to come true,' opined Angelina Nyawuora Turoal, former Chairperson of a network of civil society organizations in Rubkona. The dialogue sessions were conducted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and counted on the support of its Electoral Affairs Division. 'This week of conversations made it clear that women, on the rise and challenging norms in Unity State and elsewhere, must have their voices heard. And there is more, because their words need to be acted on as well,' concluded Alexandre Marie Rose Fernande Alexandre, a Civil Affairs Officer serving with the UN peacekeeping mission. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Meet the Women of Wall Street
Finance is an industry dominated by men, but women are rising and controlling more wealth globally. How did the women of Wall Street break through, and what's changing now that they have? (Source: Bloomberg)
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How To Lead A Company Through Personal Crisis And Come Back Stronger
As Paramount Chair Shari Redstone reveals her battle with thyroid cancer, founder Billie Whitehouse opens up about leading a company through a profound health challenge—and what other women leaders can learn from her experience. When news broke that Shari Redstone, Chair of Paramount Global, is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, the public learned only through a brief, formal statement from her spokesperson. Redstone has not commented directly but emphasized through her team that she would 'maintain all professional and philanthropic activities throughout her treatment, which is ongoing.' Her discretion underscores the pressure many women leaders face to project invulnerability in the face of deeply personal health crises. That's why Billie Whitehouse, founder and CEO of fashion tech company Wearable X, is choosing a different path. Now in remission after a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis, she's sharing what she wishes she had known—and how women can remain effective leaders through profound health challenges. When Whitehouse was initially diagnosed in 2022, she was 27 years old and 22 weeks pregnant. Despite experiencing intense abdominal pain, her doctors repeatedly dismissed her concerns. 'They kept telling me that it didn't make sense for me to get a colonoscopy and that I didn't fit the profile. I wish I could have read something somewhere that showed me what I should have done. At the time, I didn't have the confidence to push back. I was just like, 'oh yeah, they're the experts. Okay, we move on.'' Eventually, emergency surgery revealed a tumor in her transverse colon. Her baby survived the operation but died six days later. Whitehouse took a board meeting from the hospital the day before her baby died. 'I had waited for this board meeting for so long. Everyone had rescheduled a million times. I just needed to get it done. In hindsight, I really wish I hadn't done that.' Her experience and her survival taught her powerful lessons she now wants to share with other women. She hopes her story can guide those navigating personal crises while also leading companies. Whitehouse's first instinct was to keep her diagnosis private. And she doesn't regret it. 'I told [the board] I was going through treatment, but not what the treatment was,' she says. 'I feared not getting a project or a client because someone thought I was too high-risk. I was worried they would remove me if they didn't think I could do the job.' John Samuels, CEO of Wellworth Advisors, agrees that leaders don't always have to disclose all of the personal details. However, they do need a plan. He suggests considering factors like privacy, the ability to perform your job, the type of work you do and legal and regulatory requirements. Samuels also suggests only communicating facts and not 'unknowns.' While Whitehouse kept her personal story to herself, she did choose to over-communicate about the state of the company. 'In the first month after my diagnosis, we lost our biggest client, our bank went bust and we got audited for our insurance,' she says. 'So, I really over communicated with the board at that time.' When asked if she felt that was the right approach, she answered an emphatic yes. 'The board has since told me they were so grateful for the over communication.' Nadi X by Wearable X yoga wear Wearable X When Whitehouse was first diagnosed, she tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, prioritizing both work and her health, despite undergoing surgery and a rigorous course of chemotherapy. She didn't want to convey that she wasn't able to do her job. 'In the first three months of my diagnosis, I tried to maintain my normal work schedule. I tried to be on every call and just 'do the thing.'' Melissa Gonzalez, author of The Purpose Pivot, says women need to stop looking at vulnerability as a weakness. 'Too often, in our personal pursuit of professional excellence, especially as women leaders, we've been conditioned to ignore the early warning signs our bodies send us.' The retail strategist says women are conditioned to wear exhaustion like a 'badge of honor.' 'We hide our struggles out of fear of appearing weak and tell ourselves to just 'power through' until our bodies make different decisions for us.' Lisa Marchiano agrees, especially for younger women. The Jungian analyst and podcaster says, 'Young women in a corporate environment often worry about not being taken seriously. Showing weakness or vulnerability may feel unthinkable as they worry it will undermine their authority.' When Whitehouse's cancer returned in 2023, she took a different approach. Whitehouse's recurrence provided an opportunity to do things differently. She says one of her biggest realizations was that she didn't need to keep pushing at full speed. She could, and should, set boundaries. Referring to her second bout with colon cancer, Whitehouse said, 'This time I was just very deliberate about when I could work and when I couldn't based on my treatment. I told people I would respond by email, but slowly... don't expect it to be immediate.' Whitehouse says she learned this lesson the hard way. 'Previously I tried to maintain my normal work schedule. This time around, it was a much more deliberate approach.' Marchiano warns that bearing suffering alone cuts us off from an essential source of help and comfort. Women, fortunately, tend to respond to stress through a strategy known as 'tend and befriend,' she says. 'If we're suffering, we let our close circle know and may receive an outpouring of material and emotional support.' However, she warns, if we choose to keep a diagnosis private at work, we lack that support where we may need it the most. This means it may be helpful to confide in a close circle of colleagues. 'Having to face a life-threatening illness or devastating loss while few around have any idea means that you are carrying this burden alone, at least in the work sphere,' Marchiano says. 'This takes a toll.' 'I got my mojo back by finding things to look forward to, like meaningful projects, travel, time with family,' says Whitehouse. 'I'm enjoying work in a new way at the moment,' she says. 'And I think that helps you get your mojo back—when you can find the parts of work that really excite you.' That also includes getting rid of toxic clients. After engaging with a client that caused her a great deal of stress, she ended the relationship. 'I'm proud of myself for making that decision. The stress from working with people like that is too great now.' Whitehouse has also launched a yoga e-book and is developing a breast pad that vibrates to reduce mastitis in nursing mothers. And her biggest boss move yet may just be her recent photoshoot that shows the world her battle wounds – her surgical scars. 'It's quite personal,' she explains. 'But it feels like it's the time to be fully transparent.' 'One of the things we need to do with suffering is to make meaning of it,' says Marchiano. 'Then, it can become bearable.' Marchiano supports Whitehouse sharing her story so that others going through something similar might benefit. 'In this way, she is trying to put her suffering to good purpose.' Gonzalez shares the same sentiment. One recurring theme she elicited through interviews for her book is about sharing. 'There is immense relief that comes from sharing our journeys and embracing the strength found in vulnerability, and the unexpected gift of our sharing helping others.' Whitehouse agrees. 'I've decided I don't want to be ruled by fear anymore,' she says. 'I want to live fully, and for me, that means being vocal.' Whitehouse's Nadi X yoga wear by Wearable X Wearable X And vocal she is. While not every woman will or should handle crises in the workplace the same way, what matters is that your communication be honest and on your own terms. 'Communicate authentically to yourself,' Whitehouse says. 'For me, that meant ensuring that the status of the company was clear and that there was still a path to success—even if that meant taking some time to slow down.'
