Burks dismisses the idea that there are no qualified minority candidates for high-level positions. "They're out there," says Burks, who has been recruiting for more than 20 years. Although actual placements are few and far between, what is happening, he adds, are "daily, small steps in a positive direction."
Those steps are even smaller for minority women. But Dory believes that will change at some point. "The key is to say to yourself, 'I am not different, I am just as good as the person sitting next to me.'" — A.N.S.
| The Fortunate Few: The 35 female CFOs of the 500 largest companies in the United States (as of May 1, 2006). |
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| F500 Rank | Company/CFO/Age | What It Took | |
| 8 | Citigroup Sallie Krawcheck 41 |
Admits she "wandered through her 20s" as an investment banker, became an equity analyst after a prolonged maternity leave. Named Citigroup CFO in November 2004. | |
| 14 | Home Depot Carol Tomé 49 |
Started as a commercial lender for what is now Wells Fargo, became a corporate treasurer. Joined Home Depot in 1995, named CFO in 2001. | |
| 18 | Verizon Doreen Toben 56 |
Joined AT&T's treasury department in 1983, became CFO of Verizon in April 2002. | |
| 23 | Marathon Oil Janet Clark 51 |
Quit her job as an investment banker for First Boston at age 35, became CFO of Santa Fe Energy Resources. Joined Marathon as CFO in 2004. | |
| 51 | Medco Health Solutions JoAnn Reed 50 |
After two years as a statistician for S&P, became an assistant controller for CBS Records. Joined Medco in 1988 as director of FP&A, became CFO in 2002. | |
| 61 | PepsiCo Indra Nooyi 50 |
Came from India in her early 20s to do an MBA at Yale, then took corporate-strategy roles with Motorola and Asea Brown Boveri before joining PepsiCo in 1994. | |
| 82 | International Paper Marianne Parrs 62 |
Left her job as a Wall Street analyst and joined IP in 1974 as pension investment manager to reduce travel after the birth of her first child. | |
| 87 | Federated Department Stores Karen Hoguet 49 |
Joined Federated from Boston Consulting Group in 1982 as a senior consultant in strategic planning. | |
| 95 | Merck Judy Lewent 57 |
Went straight to business school out of college and into investment banking; joined Pfizer and then Merck. CFO since 1990. | |
| 113 | Supervalu Pamela Knous 52 |
After making partner at KPMG, became CFO for The Vons Cos. and then Supervalu in 1991. | |
| 125 | Constellation Energy Group E. Follin Smith 46 |
Trained in General Motors's treasury department, was CFO for a Delphi division and Armstrong Holdings before joining Constellation as CFO in 2001. | |
| 154 | Office Depot Patricia McKay 48 |
Has been on Office Depot's board since 2004 and its CFO since 2005. | |
| 158 | US Steel Gretchen Haggerty 50 |
With both accounting and law degrees, joined US Steel as management trainee in tax division in 1976, moved up through treasury, named CFO in 2003. | |
| 185 | AEP Susan Tomasky 53 |
Was general counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a law firm partner before joining AEP in 1998 as general counsel. | |
| 186 | Marsh & McLennan M. Michele Burns 48 |
A senior tax partner at Arthur Andersen, she joined Delta in 1999 and soon became CFO. Joined Marsh & McLennan from Mirant in early 2006. | |
| 196 | Oracle Safra Catz 43 |
A lawyer by training, was a managing director at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette before coming to Oracle in 1999. | |
| 221 | AES Victoria Harker 41 |
Started career at MCI after graduating with an MBA. Became CFO in January 2006. | |
| 224 | First Data Kim Patmore 49 |
Joined First Data in 1992 as controller after 11 years at Ernst & Young; became CFO in 2000. | |
| 238 | Cummins Jean Blackwell 51 |
Law firm partner and state budget director before joining Cummins as general counsel in 1997. CFO since 2003. | |
| 243 | Kinder Morgan Management Kimberly Allen Dang 36 |
A former Goldman Sachs investment banker, joined Kinder Morgan in 2001 as head of IR. Became treasurer in 2004 and CFO in 2005. | |
| 251 | Alltel Sharilyn Gasaway 37 |
A former Andersen auditor, joined Alltel in 1999 as controller and became CFO in 2006. | |
| 280 | Reynolds American Dianne Neal 46 |
Joined in 1998 as coupon-redemption center preparer/processor, promoted into various financial-management positions, including controller in 1997. Named CFO in 2003. | |
| 296 | Gannett Gracia Martore 54 |
After a career in banking, joined Gannett as assistant treasurer in 1985. Became CFO in 2003. | |
| 300 | Southwest Airlines Laura Wright 46 |
A former auditor, joined Southwest's tax department in 1988, worked her way up through treasury. Named CFO in 2004. | |
| 317 | Applied Materials Nancy Handel 54 |
Joined Applied Materials in 1985 as assistant treasurer; has been both treasurer and controller. Promoted to CFO in 2004. | |
| 337 | Dynegy Holli Nichols 35 |
Joined Dynegy in 2000 after auditing for PwC; became controller and treasurer. Named CFO in 2005. | |
| 343 | CDW Barbara Klein 51 |
Started as an auditor for E&Y, was controller for Ameritech and CFO of Dean Foods before joining CDW as CFO in 2002. | |
| 372 | Unisys Janet Haugen 47 |
Joined Unisys as controller in 1996 after making partner at E&Y. Promoted to CFO in July 2000. | |
| 390 | Smith International Margaret Dorman 42 |
Auditor then corporate controller. Joined Smith in 1995 as director of financial reporting. Became CFO in 1999. | |
| 409 | Darden Restaurants Linda Dimopoulos 55 |
Joined Darden in 1982; was promoted from CIO to CFO in December 2002. | |
| 412 | Yahoo Susan Decker 43 |
Once the global director of equity research at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; joined Yahoo in 2000. | |
| 449 | Whole Foods Market Glenda Flanagan Chamberlain 52 |
The mother of six has been CFO of Whole Foods since joining in 1988, after beginning her career as auditor. | |
| 457 | Nash Finch LeAnne M. Stewart 41 |
Formerly manager of corporate finance for Enron Europe, began career as auditor, joined Nash Finch in 1999 as head of FP&A, became controller and then CFO in 2004. | |
| 468 | United Stationers Kathleen Dvorak 49 |
Joined company in 1982, promoted to CFO in 2001 from VP of IR and assistant secretary. | |
| 480 | Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Kathleen L. Quirk 42 |
Has been with FCX since 1989, working in various areas of treasury and IR. Named CFO in 2003. | |
| Sources: Heidrick & Struggles; the companies | |||
Reader CommentsDisplaying 3 of 6
jean schwindt
Feb 15, 2007 4:53 PM ET
"Having It All"
Survey executive women and men as to the major criteria defining "Having It All" at 25 at 35 at 45 at 55 and at 65 … more
Narendra Pulipaka
Sep 27, 2006 5:18 PM ET
What about Asians?
There are quite a few Asian (both male and female) students graduating out of Top MBA programs every year - most of … more
Jerome Kern
Jun 9, 2006 2:16 PM ET
What *women* want
I'm all for promoting women in finance or any other field, for that matter, but why does everyone believe that … more
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