Women’s History in the Making: Atlanta’s New Women CEOs
Every year, women in business make more and more exciting progress in gaining top leadership positions and catalyzing lasting change in the industry.
But our state has sometimes fallen behind when it comes to reflecting this change in our own Georgia-based companies. However, in the past year, some of Atlanta’s highest-ranking women business leaders have surpassed major milestones in a trend that is sure to continue.
Last year, Carol Tomé began her new position as CEO of Atlanta-based UPS, becoming Georgia’s top-ranking businesswoman and the only woman to run a Fortune 500 company in the state.
But becoming a CEO wasn’t always a career goal of Tomé’s. Her previous job was as CFO of The Home Depot, where she had for worked 24 years. After a long, successful run with the Atlanta business giant, she felt satisfied with her achievements and decided to retire in 2019.
That’s why Tomé was surprised when UPS asked her if she would like to be considered for the CEO role. Despite already being in retirement, she was intrigued by the idea and decided she’d have more fun and fulfillment by getting back in the business.
Tomé took over as CEO of UPS on June 1 of last year, determined to bring about positive change in all areas of the company while refreshing and refining their business practices. In the past eleven months, she’s emphasized the importance of and driven improvements in diversity, inclusivity, employee satisfaction, and environmental responsibility within the company.
Last December, UPS created a new role on their Executive Leadership Team—Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer—and appointed their previous Chief Human Resources Officer, Charlene Thomas, to take on the position. They also brought greater diversity to their Board of Directors, electing five new women and people of color.
And last November, the company finally ended their ban on their employees having natural Black hairstyles or facial hair at work.
Since UPS relies heavily on carbon-emitting ground and air transportation, with their drivers traveling over 2 billion miles per year, Tomé is also prioritizing environmental responsibility. The company already has carbon reduction goals in place, but the new CEO has committed to making the goals more ambitious.
Tomé’s progressive actions and fresh perspective are clearly paying off: in just the nine months since she began leading the company, the likelihood of UPS employees to recommend working there has risen from 51 percent to 64 percent.
This past January, another exciting change in CEO of a Fortune 500 company was announced, this time with massive pharmacy store chain Walgreens.
Rosalind “Roz” Brewer made history as she took on the role of CEO of Walgreens this past March, becoming the only Black woman to head a Fortune 500 company currently. As the former COO of Starbucks, a former Amazon director, and previous President and CEO of Sam’s Club, Brewer has an impressive history of business leadership in some of the nation’s most influential companies.
Though her new role with Walgreens is based in Illinois, Brewer has said that she calls Atlanta home. She’s a graduate of Atlanta’s very own Spelman College, which has been ranked the #1 historically Black college and university (HBCU) for the past 14 years by U.S. News & World Report.
Brewer’s journey as CEO of Walgreens has just begun, but with her proven history of advocating for racial and gender equity in business and her strategic vision for the companies she leads, both Brewer and the pharmacy giant have a promising future ahead.
Brewer is joining the only 37 other women running Fortune 500 companies, but as awareness of this issue and greater equity in the workforce continue to rise, this number is sure to grow.
