Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO of TIAA, has been named to Fortune magazine’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business.
The distinction that places her among the most influential executives shaping global commerce today.
Duckett, one of only 20 leaders of Fortune 500 companies to make the list, ranked No. 7 this year; solidifying her position as a transformative force in finance and a trailblazer for women of color in corporate America.
“This recognition belongs to every woman who’s helped shape my path and to every young leader who dares to dream,” Duckett shared in a heartfelt post on social media. “It reinforces our mission at TIAA—to close the retirement gap and build a more equitable financial future for all.”
The 2025 list, now in its 28th year, highlights businesswomen leading across industries ranging from tech and health care to retail and energy.
According to Fortune, this year’s honorees were evaluated based on company performance, career trajectory, innovation, and influence, especially in how they’re making business better amid a shifting economic landscape.
Duckett, one of only a handful of Black women to ever lead a Fortune 100 company, has made retirement equity a cornerstone of her leadership at TIAA.
Her mission is personal and urgent: to bridge the growing racial and gender wealth gap in the United States. Under her leadership, TIAA has sharpened its focus on creating inclusive financial solutions for educators, healthcare workers, and other public servants.
Fortune praised Duckett for using her platform to advocate for underrepresented communities while driving growth and innovation at TIAA. Her inclusion in the top 10 underscores her growing influence at the intersection of finance, policy, and social impact.
“This month, as many embrace new beginnings, I’m reminded of my own,” Duckett said. “I never forget that I stand on the shoulders of giants, and I make it a priority to lift others as I climb.”
The 2025 Most Powerful Women list includes 52 U.S.-based executives and 48 global leaders, reflecting the increasing international scope of women’s impact in business. The announcement coincides with Fortune’s inaugural Most Powerful Women International Summit, held this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a U.S. summit planned for October in Washington, D.C.
As the business world continues to evolve, leaders like Thasunda Brown Duckett are proving that power can be used not only to lead profitably—but to lead with purpose.
For more on the 2025 Most Powerful Women in Business list, visit fortune.com.
