An Open Letter in Response to Forbes “America’s 100 Most Innovative Leaders” List, From 172+ Female CEOs

September 12, 2019
To Randall Lane, Editor in Chief, Forbes Magazine

If “America’s Most Innovative Leaders” list as Forbes published Friday elevates 99 men and one woman, it is time to rethink how we define “innovative” and “leaders.” It’s time to overhaul the criteria that determines who makes the cut.

We cannot see such a list again.

Though important, this isn’t about equity and inclusion: This is about economic imperative. Growth in the global marketplace happens only by big business and start-ups opening the doors to women. We cannot compete on half our brain power. That’s like hopping long distances, up mountains even, on one leg. We must harness all the  power, all the creativity and ingenuity the U.S. holds.  Forbes, you have even reported in your own pages that diverse management teams produce 19 percent higher returns.

A list like this also has major ripple impacts. It governs who gets tapped for boards, which candidates get to interview, who speaks at conference podiums, and who gets funding for their next gig, which all then further reinforce the status quo of business realm as boy’s club. Worse still, it shapes how girls today see what is possible for them, what they strive for and go after, which then sets up a whole new generation to stay stuck.

We must revise the metrics that underpin this list beyond market cap, size of network, and how far market expectations exceed market value. Adding a woman to the team of three male researchers who developed them would be a start, as Vogue suggested. We should be judging industry transformation and societal impact. It would be hard to overestimate the change that Anne Wojcicki’s introduction of the personal genetic test at 23&Me has brought to personal lives and futures. Cancers have been avoided, long-lost families reunited, heart attacks prevented. The same could be said about Sara Blakely cutting up a pair of pantyhose and creating her shapewear empire Spanx, which alters how millions of women feel about themselves every single day.

In just the past decade, Katrina Lake has massively disrupted the apparel industry bringing data science to clothing fit and choice. Stephanie Lampkin is combatting bias in hiring with an app already shifting who gets jobs all over Silicon Valley. At Away, the latest female-run business to be valued at over $1B, Jen Rubio and Steph Korey have reinvented the boring old suitcase into a fashion statement teen girls and business types alike are squealing over. At Glossier, Emily Weiss has made direct-to-consumer cosmetics and customer-driven product development a phenomenon. These cosmic industry revolutions don’t merit top innovator stripes?  How can that be?

At Epibone, Nina Tandon may not yet have turned a profit but you can find human bones growing in her Brooklyn labs! Rachel Haurwitz at Caribou Bioscience is editing genes to help fight horrific diseases, and Tina Sharkey at Brandless is taking on the packaged goods giants who overcharge and overpackage. Kara Goldin at HINT is getting rid of some of the worst toxins we put in our bodies—sugar and oxybenzone—out.

Women are soaring. They are dreaming up ways to abolish single-use plastic in home cleaning products at Blueland and empowering hundreds of thousands of women to earn a living, some over $IM dollars, as style bloggers at RewardStyle, and democratizing design and bringing it to the masses at Minted.

Forbes, how about a list that celebrates true changemakers and value creators? How about a measurement approach that ferrets out impact? How about ditching age-old stereotypes for new thinkers instead of perpetuating obsolete norms? Think about a teen girl who takes her mom’s phone and scrolls her feed and happens upon such a list— what would you want her to see?

Innovation is for all. Let’s create a list that shows that.

Sincerely,

1. Stella McCartney, Founder, Stella McCartney
2. Meg Whitman, CEO, Quibi & former CEO, Hewlett-Packard & Ebay
3. Anne Wojcicki, Cofounder & CEO, 23andMe
4. Julia Hartz, CEO, Eventbrite
5. Gretchen Watkins, US President, Shell Oil Company
6. Mindy Grossman, CEO, WW (Weight Watchers)
7. Rebecca Minkoff, Founder & CEO, Rebecca Minkoff
8. Sarah Friar, CEO, Nextdoor
9. Heidi Zak, Co-Founder & CEO, Thirdlove
10. Sonja Hoel Perkins, Founder of The Perkins Fund, Broadway Angels and Project Glimmer 
11. Cindi Leive, former Editor in Chief, Glamour Magazine
12. Gregg Renfrew, Founder & CEO, Beautycounter
13. Michelle Zatlyn, Founder& COO, Cloudflare
14. Brit Morin, Founder & CEO, Brit + Co
15. Christene Barberich, Cofounder, Refinery 29
16. Lisa Sugar, Founder & President, Pop Sugar
17. Kathryn Minshew, Founder & CEO, The Muse
18. Alexandra Cavoulacos, Founder & President, The Muse
19. Mariam Naficy, founder & CEO, Minted
20. Kara Goldin, Founder & CEO, Hint
21. Jesse Genet, cofounder & CEO, Lumi
22. Leslie Blodgett, Founder, bareMinerals
23. Amber Venz Box, Founder & President RewardStyle
24. Tina Sharkey, Cofounder & Co-Chair, Brandless
25. Barri Rafferty, CEO of Ketchum PR
26. Sarah Leary, Cofounder, Nextdoor
27. Christina Stembel, Founder & CEO, Farmgirl Flowers
28. Leah Busque Solivan, GP Fuel Capital, Founder Task Rabbit
29. Rachel Haurwitz, CEO, Caribou Biosciences
30. Jane Chen, CEO, Embrace Innovations
31. Emma Mcilroy CEO, Wildfang
32. Beatriz Acevedo, Founder, Mitu & President, Acevedo Foundation
33. Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO, Blueland
34. Dawn Dobras, CEO, Credo Beauty
35. Jana Rich, CEO, Rich Talent Group
36. Ellen Pao, CEO, Project Include
37. Hannah Lavon, CEO, Hooray Hoopla & creator PALS
38. Stephanie Lampkin, Founder &CEO, Blendoor
39. Joanna Strober, Founder & CEO Kurbo Health
40. Carolyn Magill, CEO, Aetion
41. Maria Molland, CEO, Thinx
42. Sue Levin, Chief Commercial Officer, Bolt Threads & Founder, Lucy.com
43. Kim Malek, Founder, Salt&Straw
44. Bianca Gates, Cofounder & CEO, Birdies
45. Marissa Sharkey, Cofounder & President, Birdies
46. Deb Kilpatrick, CEO, Evidation Health
47. Elli Kaplan, Founder & CEO, Neurotrack
48. Amanda French, Cofounder & CEO, EMME
49. Diane Campbell, Owner, The Candy Store
50. Ammara Yaqub, Founder, Ammara
51. Ellen M. Beasley, Ph.D. CEO, Apton Biosystems
52. Nikole E. Kimes, Ph.D, President, CSO & Cofounder, Siolta Therapeutics
53. Frida Polli, CEO & Founder Pymetrics
54. Andy Coravos, Cofounder and CEO, Elektra Labs
55. Pat Welch, Founder & CEO, Boly:Welch
56. Monica Enand, Founder & CEO of Zapproved
57. Debra Turner Hatcher, Founder, A to Z Wineworks
58. Stacy Ferreira, Cofounder & CEO, Forge
59. Joy Zhang, Cofounder, Mon Ami
60. Samantha Miller, Cofounder & COO, Cadence
61. Lynn Le, Founder & CEO, Society Nine
62. Liz Valentine, Cofounder & CEO, Swift
63. Kerry Cooper, President, Rothy’s
64. Kristin Quinlan, CEO, Certified Languages International
65. Jamie Danek, Founder & CEO, Humm Kombucha
66. Stacey Boyd, founder & CEO, Olivela
67. Amy Duross, CEO, Vineti
68. Murielle Thinard mcLane, Ontera Bio
69. Shara Ticku, CEO, C16 Biosciences
70. Kristine Ashcroft, CEO, Youscript
71. Jenny Abramson, Founder & Managing Partner, Rethink Impact
72. Graciela Gomez Cowger, CEO, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
73. Carolyn Magill, CEO, Aetion
74. Michelle Cardinal, Founder & CEO R2C group
75. Nancy Lazkani, Founder & CEO, Icon Media Direct
76. Toni Knight, CEO, WorldLink Media
77. Grace E. Colon, Ph.D., CEO, InCarda Therapeutic
78. Reenie McCarthy, CEO, Stealth BioTherapeutics
79. Daniela Perdomo, cofounder & CEO, goTenna
80. Amanda Bradford, founder & CEO, The League
81. Amy Buckner Chowdhry, founder & CEO, AnswerLab
82. Meg He, cofounder, Aday
83. Nina Faulhaber, cofounder, Aday
84. Sara Mauskopf, cofounder and CEO of Winnie
85. Robin Richards Donohoe, cofounder, Draper Richards Venture Funds & Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
86. Yvonne Hutchinson, CEO, ReadySet
87. Tracy MacNeal, President & CEO, Materna Medical
88. Véronique Peiffer, CEO, palmm
89. Cathy Zoi, CEO, EVgo
90. Deborah Hanus, CEO, Sparrow
91. Marie Alexander, CEO, EveryAspect.life
92. Eliza Blank, founder & CEO, The Sill
93. Sahar Saidi, Founder & CEO, LUS Brands
94. Gita Dittmar DVM, CEO, Ethris GmbH
95. Jessica L. Hubley, cofounder & CEO, AnnieCannons
96. Hillary Peterson, founder & CEO, True Botanicals
97. Ann Garnier, founder & CEO, Lisa Health
98. Jessie Medina, Founder, FEM Latinas
99. Steven Boal, CEO, Quotient
100. Michele Boal, Founder & CEO, Kadima
101. Mariette Wharton, Founder & CEO, Nimble
102. Catarina Schwab, Cofounder & Co-CEO, NPX Advisors
103. Lindsay Beck, Cofounder & Co-CEO, NPX Advisors
104. Iris Wedeking, Cofounder & CEO, IDentical
105. Rielly Karsh, Cofounder, Moms Running
106. Danielle Davies, Cofounder, Moms Running
107. Alison Minter, Partner, North Castle Partners
108. Courtney Nichols Gould, Cofounder & CoCEO, SmartyPantsVitamins
109. Jill Kuehler, Founder & CEO, Freeland Spirit
110. Els van der Helm, PhD, CEO, Shleep
111. Courtney Heaton, Founder, Heaton + Williams
112. Anna Christensen, PhD, President & CEO, Magnetic Insight
113. Amy Burroughs, President & CEO, Cleave Therapeutics
114. Laura Shawver, PhD.,President & CEO, Synthorx
115. Angie You, PhD, CEO, Amunix
116. Sequoia Taylor, Founder, Sequoia Taylor
117. Sandra Shpilberg, Founder & CEO, Seeker Health
118. Megan Grassell, Founder & CEO, Yellowberry
119. Kellie A. McElhaney, PhD. Founder, Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership, UC Berkeley
120. Kristin Groos Richmond, Founder & CEO, Revolution Foods
121. Kirstin Saenz Tobey, Founder & Chief Impact Officer, Revolution Foods
122. Daphne Koller, Founder & CEO, Insitro  and Cofounder Coursera
123. Pek Lum, PhD, CEO, Auransa Inc.
124. Patty Hubbard, Managing Director & Cofounder, BFWD Sports
125. Stephanie Martin, Managing Director & Cofounder, BFWD Sports
126. Sheila Gujrathi, MD, Cofounder & CEO, Gossamer Bio
127. Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO, Luminary
128. Anjali Kumar, Co-Founder, The Justice Dept
129. Kathryn Rose, Founder & CEO, wiseHer
130. Ruthann Harnish, Investor & Philanthropist
131. Christie Nicholson, Founder, Inst for Innovation & Communicating Complexity, Board Chair, PopTech
132. Kellee James, Founder & CEO, Mercaris
133. Laura Rowley, President, Rough Metal Digital Media
134. Kristi Faulkner, President, Womenkind
135. Elisa Camahort Page, CEO Cygnus, founding COO BlogHer, Inc.
136. Cindy Gallop, Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn
137. Kate Luzio, Founder & CEO, Luminary
138. Sara Rodell, CEO, Loop & Tie
139. Kristy Wallace, CEO, Ellevate Network
140. Gayle Jennings-O’Byrne Co-Founder, General Partner, The WOCstar Fund
141. Lindsey Taylor Wood, Founder & CEO, The Helm
142. Annette Azan, Founder, Nuu Collective LLC
143. Iman Oubou, Founder & CEO, SWAAY
144. Erika Dale, Co-founder & CMO, SWAAY
145.  Trish Schmitt, Co-founder & COO, SWAAY
146. Abby Falik, Founder & CEO, Global Citizen Year
147. Philippe Von Borries, Founder & CEO, Refinery 29
148. Justin Stefano, Founder & CEO, Refinery 29
149. Piera Gelardi, Co-founder & GEIC, Refinery 29
150. Yi Larson, CFO, Turning Point Therapeutics
151. Nancy May, President & CEO, BoardBench
152. Sabrina Martucci Johnson, President & CEO, Dare Bioscience
153. Tonise Paul, President & CEO, Energy BBDO
154. Donna Haghighat, CEO, Women’s Fund of Western MA
155. Doris Sugarman, Co-Founder and CEO, The Connecticut Forum
156. Susan McPherson, Founder & CEO, McPherson Strategies
157. Tracy Chou, Founder & CEO, Block Party
158. Jennifer Justice, Founder, The Justice Department
159. Cristelle Rohaut, CEO, Codi
160. Celia Carter, Founder & CEO, Roshi
161. Allison Saunders, Founder & CEO, Fixate / CuriousHer & CuriousHer LLC
162. Lea Goldman, former EIC, A+E Networks
163. Anat Baron, Founder & CEO, StashWall
164. Lily Chehrazi, Owner & Creative Director, Together California
165. Benedict Barrett, CEO, Together, Inc.
166. Sarah Alter, CEO, NEW
167. Jini Kim, CEO, Nuna
168. Gordon Ringold, CEO, CEO, Quadriga Biosciences
169. Autumn, founder, Autumn Adeigbo
170. Lisa Durant, Morgan Stanley
171. Heather Wood Rudulph, Managing Editor, Dame Magazine
172. Kristin Carrington, CEO, Carrington Risk
173. Lisa Giannone, Owner & CEO, Active Care-home of Hammer
174. Erin Carlson, Editor-in-Chief, Nob Hill Gazette