List of Black Women in STEM Fields Featured on Forbes' 2025 Over 50 List
In the realm of business, art, and philanthropy, several Black women are making significant strides and leaving indelible marks on their respective industries. Here are some notable examples:
Alicia Boler Davis
Alicia Boler Davis, an engineer by trade, has broken barriers in the traditionally male-dominated automotive industry. She became the first Black woman to serve as a plant manager at General Motors, later rising to the position of executive vice president for global manufacturing. In 2022, she was named CEO of Alto, a digital pharmacy that offers nationwide mail delivery, courier, and pickup services in 12 metropolitan areas. Following the acquisition of Alto by Paulus Holdings, valued between $1 billion - $1.5 billion, Boler Davis is now the president of Ford Pro, the commercial fleet division of the automaker.
Robin Washington
Robin Washington boasts an impressive 25-year career in various roles at companies such as Gilead Sciences, Hyperion Solutions, and PeopleSoft. Since 2013, she has been a member of Salesforce's board of directors, and in 2020, she was appointed as the President and Chief Operating Officer at Salesforce. In this role, she oversees key areas like business strategy, global finance, employee success, and marketing. Additionally, Washington serves on the board of directors of Alphabet.
Montgomery Rice
Montgomery Rice, a trailblazer in the healthcare industry, founded the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry Medical College. In 2014, she became the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine, making history as the first female leader of the historically Black medical institution. Rice has received numerous honours, including the Horatio Alger Award, the Dean Griffin Community Service Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Girls Inc. Smart Award, and the National Medical Association's OB/GYN 2019 Legend of the Section Award.
Yvonne Greenstreet
Yvonne Greenstreet's career in the healthcare industry spans 30 years, during which she rose to senior executive positions at GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. She started her career as an OB-GYN in London and spent 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline, eventually becoming Senior Vice President and Chief of Strategy for Research and Development. At Pfizer, Greenstreet led Medicines Development as Senior Vice President, serving on the executive team of a $16 billion division from 2011 to 2013.
The Forbes 50 Over 50 List
The Forbes 50 Over 50 list annually honours women over 50 who are making significant professional impacts across various fields, including business, philanthropy, arts, and activism. While specific details about the 2024 list were not available, it is known that the list often includes Black women leaders. For more information about the 2024 Forbes 50 Over 50 list or notable Black women entrepreneurs and leaders over 50 recognised by Forbes in recent years, please consult the official Forbes website.
- Science and technology startups are witnessing growth, with Alicia Boler Davis’ leadership at Alto, a digital pharmacy that offers services in various metropolitan areas.
- Venture capitalists should consider funding innovative health-and-wellness businesses, following an example set by Montgomery Rice, the founder of the Center for Women's Health Research.
- Fitness-and-exercise startups will benefit from Yvonne Greenstreet’s expertise, having spent 30 years in the healthcare industry and rising to senior executive positions at major pharmaceutical companies.
- Aspirational women seeking self-development can learn from the successful careers of Robin Washington, who works as the President and COO of Salesforce, and other Black women entrepreneurs on the Forbes 50 Over 50 list.
- The fashion-and-beauty industry can take inspiration from the trailblazing achievements of these Black female leaders, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of philanthropy, arts, and activism.
- Education-and-self-development opportunities on social media platforms could be shaped by the strategies of these influential women, given their significant impacts across various fields besides business.
- The entertainment sector is also encouraged to showcase more role models like these Black female leaders, who are making a difference in fields such as women's health, sports, and online education.
- Sports organizations can incorporate social-media strategies of these inspiring women to connect with fans and promote women's sports, such as sports-betting platforms dedicated to women's leagues.
- By participating in online education platforms, innovative learners can gain insights from the experiences of Black female leaders in business, philanthropy, arts, and activism, empowering future generations and inspiring lasting change.
