Women Leaders: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures

There’s something powerful about women in leadership. The data speaks volumes: women add substantial value to the GDP, women founders are statistically more successful, and women CEOs foster collaboration, resulting in measurable outcomes. Women are not only breadwinners but also the primary purchasers and caregivers.

This is not about women versus men, but rather to address the growing sentiment that women are unimportant, that DEI is unimportant, and that women are able to be erased from the conversation. It is in response to the myriad calls and emails I am receiving to ask if the word “women” is being targeted in federally funded grants, or if women’s health is on the funding chopping block.

It is important to remember: empowering women economically and addressing gender-specific health issues are not just beneficial for gender equality—they are engines for broad innovation, growth, and revenue.

Supporting women leaders and founders is a bipartisan national and global economic imperative.

Women’s Economic Impact

Women’s participation in the workforce has a massive economic impact. In the U.S., women's contributions have been critical, adding nearly $2 trillion annually to the GDP, and this is when women are paid less and provided less access to senior-level positions.

Since the mid-1900s, women have been essential to the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1950 women made up a third of the workforce (18 million) filling a gap and addressing labor demands from WWII; by the early 2000s, women accounted for 47% of the workforce (73 million) due to increased access to education and rising costs of living. This number peaked at around 57% in the early 2000s and has hovered between 50-55% since, except during the pandemic years.

In addition to making up half of the workforce, women have been making remarkable contributions to the economy:

• 40% of women are breadwinners.

• 80% of women make and influence purchasing decisions.

• 35% of the STEM workforce is female.

• Women are increasingly represented in nearly every labor category.

Yet, women are still paid 83 cents for every dollar earned by men; spend an average of 9 years living with disability during their working lives; take on 9 hours of unpaid work; make up only 28% of Congress, and 26% of state governors. Over her lifetime, an average woman will miss out on an estimated $1 million in unearned wages as a result. These are not wages women put in their pockets, these are wages that get invested in family caregiving, purchasing, and efforts related to unpaid work. This unearned income affects everyone in a family, not just women.

But women in leadership positions can change the game. Data show that companies with female CEOs see 34% higher returns for shareholders. Women in decision-making positions also drive more collaborative environments, resulting in improved innovation, team performance, and employee satisfaction. 

Women in leadership demonstrate the possibility of leadership to others. In terms of entrepreneurship, women-owned businesses generate $1.8 trillion a year and are growing at twice the rate of male-owned firms. And women-founded startups are solid investments, returning 78 cents on the dollar in revenue, over 2 times that of their male counterparts.

Issues addressed by women and for women reduce the burden of disease (fewer years in disability and more productivity); create more time with family (as caregivers and promoting well-being); result in more purchasing decisions (versus receiving often preventable urgent care); and spend more time contributing to the economy.

The Power of Action and Accountability

Being a female leader and entrepreneur has its own set of challenges. Women often find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to learning the language of leadership, accessing networks, or fitting into executive norms, making it harder to find ways to bridge the gap.

But therein lies our strength. Something we aren’t often taught, but that women leaders and successful entrepreneurs know well, is this: action, adaptability, and accountability are key elements of success. The women I’ve had the privilege of working with, leading alongside, and learning from all share core traits: they take initiative even when the data isn’t perfect. They take action in the face of uncertainty, lead from the front, and hold themselves accountable for their decisions.

It’s this boldness to act, paired with the willingness to adapt and be accountable that creates a results driven leader. Women in leadership who embrace and demonstrate these characteristics are not just making decisions in boardrooms—they are driving transformational change, breaking barriers in new sectors, changing the health outcomes for millions of women, and building the future.

Women in leadership aren’t just adding value to the economy; they are redefining what success looks like in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and beyond. They’re setting new norms for collaboration, inclusivity, and resilience. 

The path forward is about increasing women’s representation and ensuring that their approach to leadership and accountability becomes part of the broader framework that drives global progress. 

So, when the daily burden of information marginalizes or dismisses women’s value or contributions, move forward. Take action. Adapt. Be accountable. Be visible. Lead.

Women in leadership are not just breaking barriers—we are building futures.