Inside The 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 List: Meet The Women Who Define Innovation, Drive And Hope

Key Concepts:

• Forbes 50 Over 50 List: Annual list recognizing women achieving significant professional impact after age 50.
• Innovation, Impact, Investment, Lifestyle: The four categories under which the 200 women are divided.
• Second Act: The idea that individuals can have multiple successful careers or ventures throughout their lives.
• Defying Societal Expectations: Overcoming stereotypes about aging and career potential.
• Fierce Urgency of Now: Addressing critical issues like climate change, inequality, and healthcare.

Overview of the Forbes 50 Over 50 List

The Forbes 50 Over 50 list, now in its fifth year (2025), celebrates women who are making their greatest professional impact after the age of 50. Launched in partnership with Mika Brzezinski's "Know Your Value" initiative in 2021, the list has a global reach and features 200 women divided into four categories: Impact, Investment, Innovation, and Lifestyle. The list aims to inspire and demonstrate that age is not a barrier to success and that individuals can have multiple successful "acts" in their careers.

Inspiration Behind the List

The list was inspired by Mika Brzezinski's feeling that she was just getting started in her 50s and had a long runway to create impact. The list highlights women who defy societal expectations and stereotypes about aging, showcasing those who have pivoted careers, taken time off to raise families, or overcome personal challenges to build impactful ventures.

Notable Stories and Examples

• Goodles (Jen): A "better-for-you" noodle company experiencing rapid growth, with waiting lists for their microwavable cups.
• Bog Bag (Kim Vakarella): A tote bag company resembling Crocs, projected to generate $170 million in revenue this year. Kim overcame her fear of quitting her day job to pursue her entrepreneurial dream.
• Suma Krishnan: A biotech innovator who founded a gene therapy company now valued at approximately $4 billion.
• Sunni Williams: An astronaut holding multiple NASA records for her time in space, included in the Innovation category.
• Halle Berry: The face of the Lifestyle category, launching a telehealth service called Respin focused on menopause. Berry considers entrepreneurship her "greatest act yet."
• Maria Shriver: The face of the Impact category, founder of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement, addressing the underrepresentation of women in brain disease research and treatment.
• Freda Caper Klein: The face of the Investment category.
• Christina Ritter: Working to expand Medicare access and lower drug prices.
• Ellie Hollander: CEO of Meals on Wheels, addressing the impact of federal budget cuts on the organization's ability to serve the elderly.
• Karen Clark: Founder of a disaster modeling company, providing crucial insights into the increasing severity of natural disasters due to climate change.
• Adah Monzone: The first female meteorologist in Puerto Rico, providing vital information during hurricane season.
• Alexis Miguel Johnson: Head of Planned Parenthood.
• Tashunda Brown Duket: CEO of TIAA, advocating for financial education and saving, drawing from her father's experience of missing out on a company 401k match.

The Four Categories Explained

1. Innovation: Focuses on STEM fields, scientists, healthcare CEOs and founders, and astronauts.
2. Lifestyle: Encompasses art, media, entertainment, retail, and design, highlighting individuals shaping culture.
3. Impact: Includes non-profit, foundation, law, education, and policy leaders.
4. Investment: Features individuals in Wall Street, private equity, venture capital, and cryptocurrency.

The "Fierce Urgency of Now"

The list underscores the urgency to address critical issues such as climate change, income inequality, and healthcare. The women on the list are actively working to solve these problems, reflecting a commitment to making a tangible difference in the world.

Impact on Younger Entrepreneurs

The list inspires individuals of all ages, reminding them that careers have multiple chapters and that success can be achieved at any age. It encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to persevere and not be discouraged if they haven't reached their goals by a certain age.

Key Quote and Defining Word

• "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."
• The defining word for this year's list is "fearless," reflecting the advice given by many of the women on the list to their younger selves: "Don't have fear. Just go for it."

Conclusion

The Forbes 50 Over 50 list for 2025 celebrates the achievements of women who are making significant contributions to various fields after the age of 50. The list highlights the importance of defying societal expectations, pursuing one's passions, and addressing critical global issues with a sense of urgency. The stories of these women serve as an inspiration to individuals of all ages, demonstrating that age is not a barrier to success and that it is never too late to make a meaningful impact.