List of 2025's Forbes 50 Over 50 Honorees Includes Four Black Women Pioneers in the Field of STEM
Four Black Women Making History: Alicia Boler Davis, Carol R. Naughton, Valerie Montgomery Rice, and Yvonne Greenstreet
Four exceptional Black women have been named on Forbes' 50 Over 50 list for 2025, each with a remarkable career trajectory. While the details of the other two women on the list are not fully available, we will focus on the achievements of Alicia Boler Davis and Carol R. Naughton, who have been profiled in detail.
Alicia Boler Davis
Alicia Boler Davis made history by becoming the first Black woman plant manager at General Motors. She rose through the ranks to become Executive Vice President for Global Manufacturing and later served as a senior executive at Amazon, overseeing global fulfillment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis was also part of the exclusive "S-Team" leadership circle at Amazon, making her the first Black woman to achieve such a position.
In 2021, Davis took on the role of CEO at Alto, a digital pharmacy, leading the company to a deal valuing it between $1 billion and $1.5 billion. Currently, she is the president of Ford Pro, Ford's commercial fleet division.
Carol R. Naughton
Carol R. Naughton has dedicated her career to community development, particularly in mixed-income housing. She was the CEO of Purpose Built Communities since 2020, leading neighborhood transformation through integrated education, housing, wellness, and economic opportunity programs across 15 states.
Naughton's leadership has been recognised specifically in the “Impact” category for community-focused contributions. Prior to her current role, she was the executive director of East Lake Foundation and deputy executive director of the Atlanta Housing Authority.
Valerie Montgomery Rice
Valerie Montgomery Rice, the sixth president of the Morehouse School of Medicine, is the first woman to hold this position. She has received several accolades, including the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, the 2017 Horatio Alger Award, the Dean Griffin Community Service Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Girls Inc. 2019 Smart Award, and the National Medical Association OB/GYN 2019 Legend of the Section Award.
Montgomery Rice has held faculty positions and leadership roles, including the founding director of the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry Medical College.
Yvonne Greenstreet
Yvonne Greenstreet, a renowned figure in the medical field, started her career as an OB-GYN in London. She served as Senior Vice President and Head of Medicines Development at Pfizer between 2011 and 2013. In 2021, Greenstreet was appointed as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam.
Greenstreet is currently developing 25 medicines for a range of afflictions, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, hypertension, and Huntington's disease. She joined Alnylam in 2016 as Chief Operating Officer and was later promoted to President and COO.
Other notable Black women on the list are making waves in STEM fields and entrepreneurship, but their names and specific achievements were not detailed in the available data.
Robin Washington, President and COFO at Salesforce, is another prominent figure on the list. She leads Business Strategy and Operations, Global Finance, Employee Success, Global Strategic Customers and Partners, Marketing, Communications, and Real Estate and Workplace Services. Washington also serves on the board of directors of Alphabet.
Washington has a 25-year career with roles at companies such as Gilead Sciences, Hyperion Solutions, and PeopleSoft. She has been serving on the Salesforce board since 2013.
These women are shining examples of leadership, innovation, and dedication to their respective fields. Their accomplishments serve as an inspiration for future generations.
- Alicia Boler Davis, with her background at General Motors and Amazon, now leads a digital pharmacy, Alto, and serves as the president of Ford Pro, further demonstrating her leadership in the fields of business, technology, and health-and-wellness.
- Carol R. Naughton's career has been dedicated to community development, particularly in mixed-income housing, where she leads neighborhood transformation programs focusing on education, wellness, and economic opportunity, earning accolades for her impactful contributions.
- Valerie Montgomery Rice, as the first woman president of the Morehouse School of Medicine, has made significant strides in women's health, education, and self-development, receiving numerous awards and holding prominent faculty positions in medicine.
- Yvonne Greenstreet is a pioneer in the medical field, developing 25 medicines for various afflictions, such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, hypertension, and Huntington's disease, as the CEO of Alnylam.
- Robin Washington, aside from being the President and COFO at Salesforce, leads multiple key departments and serves on the board of directors of Alphabet, showcasing her influence in finance, business, technology, and career development.
