Published by HRCap, Inc. on February 28, 2025
As businesses embrace digital transformation, the demand for visionary leadership in technology has never been greater. Several women tech executives are at the forefront of this evolution, driving innovation, shaping corporate strategies, and spearheading groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation.
In celebration of Women's History Month, we spotlight the "Top 11 Trailblazing Women Tech Executives to Follow in 2025," recognizing visionary leaders pushing the boundaries of technology and redefining the future. Their leadership is revolutionizing the digital landscape and fostering greater inclusivity, innovation, and progress in an ever-evolving, tech-driven world.
Top 11 Women Tech Executives
1. Fern Johnson
As the former Chief Technology Officer at PepsiCo, Fern Johnson led its digital and technology strategy to enhance efficiency, automation, and innovation across its global operations. With a deep understanding of emerging technologies, she was instrumental in driving digital transformation initiatives that optimized supply chain management, improved data analytics capabilities, and enhanced customer experiences.
Johnson’s contributions to technology leadership have earned her industry recognition. In 2025, she was named one of Women in Technology’s Top 100 Executive Women in Tech to Watch, highlighting her influence on digital transformation and innovation.
Urvashi Tyagi is an accomplished technology executive who served as the Chief Technology Officer at ResMed, where she led the digital health and global technology team. In this role, she was instrumental in driving innovation and adoption of ResMed's cloud-based digital health platforms by integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance patient care.
Tyagi has been widely recognized for her leadership and impact on technology. She was honored as one of the Top 100 Data Leaders in Life Science by CDO Magazine in 2023 and named among the Top 100 Leaders in Technology by Technology Magazine in 2021. Additionally, the National Diversity Council recognized her as one of the Top 100 CIOs and CTOs.
Lidia Fonseca is the Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Pfizer, where she oversees the company's digital strategy and technological advancements. Her leadership has been instrumental in accelerating Pfizer's digital transformation, particularly in harnessing data and technology to expedite drug discovery and development processes. Fonseca's efforts have significantly enhanced patient experiences and streamlined operations within the organization.
Fonseca’s leadership in healthcare technology has earned her numerous accolades. She was featured on Forbes’ CEO Next List in 2022 and named one of the 50 Most Powerful Latinas by the Association of Latino Professionals for America in 2020 and 2021. Her achievements include being recognized as a Healthcare Influencer in 2020 and receiving the Forbes CIO Innovation Award in 2017.
4. Susie Wee
Susie Wee is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Cisco DevNet Ecosystem Success, where she led Cisco’s global developer program. Through her visionary leadership, she fostered a thriving ecosystem that enabled developers, engineers, and partners to innovate with Cisco’s technologies. Under her guidance, DevNet grew into a global community of over 650,000 developers and played a critical role in driving automation, digital transformation, and software-defined networking within the industry. Her efforts also led to the creation of DevNet professional certifications, further strengthening the skillsets of IT professionals worldwide.
Wee’s contributions to technology and innovation have been widely recognized. She was named one of Technology Review’s Top 100 Young Innovators in 2002 and ComputerWorld's Top 40 Innovators Under 40 in 2007. She also received the INCITS Technical Excellence Award, was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame, and appeared on Forbes' Most Powerful Women list.
5. Raji Arasu
Raji Arasu is the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Autodesk, where she leads the company's technology strategy and innovation initiatives. Under her leadership, Autodesk has advanced its cloud platform and services, enabling seamless integration and collaboration for designers and engineers worldwide. Arasu's strategic vision has been pivotal in driving the company's digital transformation and expanding its impact in the design and manufacturing sectors.
Arasu’s impact on the technology sector has been recognized with multiple honors. The National Diversity Council named her one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology in both 2016 and 2020. In 2019, Women Inc. recognized her as one of the Top Influential Corporate Board Directors, underscoring her influence in the industry.
Lakecia N. Gunter is a distinguished technology leader who most recently served as the Chief Technology Officer for the Global Partner Solutions Team at Microsoft Corporation. In this capacity, she led the development and implementation of Microsoft's IoT partner ecosystem strategy, driving revenue growth in IoT markets. Beyond her corporate work, Gunter serves on the boards of IDEX Corporation and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and actively advocates for education and diversity in technology.
Gunter’s leadership in technology has earned her numerous accolades. She was a finalist for SUCCESS Magazine’s 2023 Women of Influence and was named among the Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders in 2014. She was also honored as a Modern Day Technology Leader by the Black Engineer of the Year Awards.
Danielle Merfeld, the Global Chief Technology Officer at Hanwha Qcells, leads the company's technological innovation and research initiatives in the renewable energy sector. Her expertise has been crucial in advancing solar energy solutions and promoting sustainable practices. Merfeld's leadership has driven significant advancements in photovoltaic technologies, positioning Hanwha Qcells as a leader in the clean energy industry.
Merfeld’s contributions to renewable energy innovation have been widely recognized. She received the Women of Excellence Award from the New York Capital Region Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and was named Woman of the Year by the Cleanie Awards in 2018. In 2020, she ranked in the top five on the North American Power List by the U.S. Energy Association.
Rachana Kumar is an accomplished technology leader who previously served as the Chief Technology Officer at Etsy and currently advises the CEO on strategic initiatives. During her tenure as CTO, she played a pivotal role in modernizing Etsy’s technology infrastructure, spearheading the company’s migration to Google Cloud in 2020. Her leadership enhanced platform performance, scalability, and sustainability, helping Etsy maintain its status as a leading e-commerce marketplace for creative entrepreneurs.
Kumar’s leadership in technology has been recognized through multiple honors. She was named among Girl Geek’s 60 Female CTOs to Watch in 2025 and included in Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Leaders of 2025. Previously, she was listed among the Top 50 Women in Tech by the National Diversity Council in 2021 and received the Innovators & Disruptors Award from New York on Tech in 2018.
9. Lili Gangas
Lili Gangas is the Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Center, where she focuses on promoting diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. She leads initiatives aimed at closing the gap for underrepresented communities in technology, advocating for equitable access to opportunities. Gangas' efforts have been pivotal in fostering inclusive innovation ecosystems and supporting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
Gangas’ dedication to fostering diversity in technology has earned her numerous accolades. She was named to the San Francisco Business Times’ 40 Under 40 list in 2020 and previously recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Business. Additionally, she was recognized as one of the Latino Leader’s 100 Most Influential Latinas and ALPFA’s 50 Latinas to Watch.
10. Laila Abudahi
Laila Abudahi is the Chief Technology Officer, President, and Co-Founder of Manara, a platform dedicated to empowering Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) women in technology by providing mentorship, training, and career development opportunities. Under her leadership, Manara has helped bridge the gender gap in tech by connecting talented engineers with top global companies. Abudahi’s efforts have played a crucial role in creating new pathways for women in STEM fields across the MENA region.
Abudahi’s efforts to advance gender diversity in technology have been widely recognized. She was featured in Geek X’s 60 Female CTOs in 2023 and named among DigitalDefynd’s 50 World Famous Female CTOs in 2025.
11. Nicole Hu
Nicole Hu is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of One Concern, Inc., a company leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance disaster resilience and emergency preparedness. As CTO, Hu has been instrumental in developing predictive analytics tools that assist governments and organizations in mitigating the impact of natural disasters. Her work has contributed to building a more resilient infrastructure by integrating technology with climate and risk management solutions.
Hu’s groundbreaking work in AI-driven disaster resilience has earned her significant recognition. She was included in Inc.’s Female Founders 100 in 2019 and previously featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Enterprise Tech in 2016.
Conclusion
These Top 11 Trailblazing Women Tech Executives exemplify the power of innovation and transformative leadership in the technology sector. Through their expertise and forward-thinking strategies, they are shaping the future of AI, cybersecurity, data science, and enterprise technology, profoundly impacting businesses and communities worldwide. As they continue to break barriers, mentor future leaders, and redefine industry standards, their influence inspires the next generation of women in technology. Their work will undoubtedly shape the tech landscape in 2025 and beyond.
Sources: HRCap, Cesium, Cisco, Crains New York, DigitalDefynd, Forbes, Kapor Center, USEA, LinkedIn, WomenTech Network, GlobeNewswire, Qcells
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