In 2025, a new wave of dynamic and visionary women leaders is redrafting the curves of the finance domain; rather than filling top positions, they are altering the mode of how business is conducted. From traditional banking to high-growth fintech, women-led financial firms are making bold moves that stand for resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth.
Evolving with markets and shifting investor expectations, these women at the helm of their firms chart clear, agile, and far-sighted courses. From unsettling conventional systems to laying down groundwork for tech-enabled financial services, their presence is increasingly felt in boardrooms, trading floors, and rural enterprise networks. Such women are building organizations that are lean but resilient, competitive yet caring, thus demonstrating that financial acumen can go hand in hand with social initiatives.
In this article, look at ten women-led organizations making power moves in 2025. These companies are not just reacting to worldwide transformation - instead, they are setting the tempo of global change, ruffling etiquette, and proving leadership has nothing to do with gender. So, what this story does is give us an insight into the changing face of finance and the increased impact women have on the pillar.
- Jane Fraser, CEO, Citigroup –
The topmost seat at one of the largest banks in the world is a position that Jane Fraser has left an indelible mark on as the first woman to fill it. Placed at the helm in 2021, she has been determined to harness multi-year transformation to enable Citi to become more profitable, modern in its operations, and possess a robust risk and control environment. Having worked at Citi for almost 20 years with experience in both consumer and institutional banking, she is strong from the perspective of leadership. Her vision centers on operational excellence, digital innovation, and global connectivity, designating Citi as a future-focused, inclusive finance powerhouse in 2025. Jane Fraser is often rated among the Top Female Financial Advisors shaping the future of global banking.
- Gunjan Kedia, President and CEO, U.S. Bancorp –
With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, Gunjan Kedia presides over and is the CEO of U.S. Bancorp, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the country. In her position as Chief Executive Officer since April 2025, she was responsible for consumer banking, payments, institutional bank services, and oversight functions when she was president and vice chair. Kedia held high-level positions at State Street Financial, BNY Mellon, and was also a partner at McKinsey & Co., before joining U.S. Bancorp in 2016. She also serves on the boards of several nonprofit and academic institutions.
- Jennifer Piepszak, Chief Operating Officer, JPMorganChase –
Jennifer Piepszak is the Chief Operating Officer for JPMorgan Chase, with oversight of one of the largest financial institutions in the world. She is equipped with over 30 years with the company, having served in multiple top-lining positions, including the Co-CEO roles of both Commercial & Investment Bank and Consumer & Community Banking. She has also been the CFO from 2019 and 2021. Known for operationally advanced leadership alongside profound leadership skills, Jennifer Piepszak is often rated among the most powerful women in finance and banking.
- Sophie Kennedy, Joint Chief Executive Officer, EQ Investors (EQ) –
Sophie Kennedy is appointed as Joint CEO of EQ Investors at one of the most difficult times for the sustainable investing industry. Almost through the market volatility, the ESG backlash, and political tide changes, she still stands for value-based investment. Since joining EQ in 2015, Sophie has moved from the position of Investment Analyst to Head of Research and now serves as Joint CEO in charge of all investment operations. A CFA Charterholder with a background in economics and finance, she is also a diversity advocate, successfully juggling motherhood with City leadership positions and driving the culture of inclusive, purpose-led investment in EQ. As a key figure in Women in Asset Management, Sophie Kennedy brings a sharp focus on sustainability, purpose-led returns, and client trust.
- Vrinda Gupta, Founder & CEO, Sequin Financial –
As one of the leading voices among Women in Fintech, Vrinda is redefining how technology can drive equality and inclusion. Vrinda Gupta, the brainchild behind Sequin Financial and the CEO, is another esteemed disruptor in the endeavour for innovation and inclusion in the financial landscape. Having launched flagship credit products such as Chase Sapphire Reserve with Visa, she brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the table. Today, she heads Sequin, a Y Combinator-backed fintech company that aims to transform collections using AI voice agents. An MBA from Berkeley Haas and a first-generation Indian immigrant by pride, Vrinda is passionate about empowering women through intelligent solutions directed toward social good and community innovation.
- Shilpi Kapoor, CMO, Airtel Payments Bank –
Shilpi Kapoor, Chief Marketing Officer at Airtel Payments Bank, brings over two decades of proven expertise in brand transformation and customer acquisition in fintech, BFSI, telecom, and consumer industries. She is credited with scaling businesses to 100+ million users, setting category-first products, and bringing in full-funnel marketing ROI maximization. Shilpi brings an intense focus on data-driven precision, layered with creative strategy, to build high-performance teams that produce quantifiable results and redefine how financial services engage with India's dynamically evolving digital consumers.
- Yolande Piazza, SVP & GM of Americas, PayPal –
Yolande Piazza serves as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Americas for PayPal, leading all its commercial teams in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. She carries vast experience of more than 30 years in financial services, thereby bringing tremendous expertise and vision into her position. Previous to PayPal, she held a number of senior-level roles at Google Cloud and Citi, where she also set up FUTURE | Women in IT. Her approach to customer-centric innovation directly aligns with emerging Finance Trends 2025, where agility, accessibility, and trust take center stage.
- Vanessa Colella, Global Head of Innovation, Visa –
Vanessa Colella is a visionary leader who mixes innovation with purpose in finance and technology. Formerly the Global Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships at Visa, Colella was the architect behind strategic partnerships with fintech, big tech, and crypto, as well as the global Innovation Centers at Visa. She has pushed the limits of digital finance ever since. With her roots in venture capital, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Colella champions inclusion, global partnerships, and innovation that inspires deep societal change.
- Anne Boden, Founder & CEO of Starling Bank –
Anne Boden, a trailblazer in the world of digital banking, founded Starling Bank in 2014 as a smarter, fairer alternative to traditional banks. Since then, it has emerged as one of the most successful digital banks worldwide, changing the lives of millions of people. Since her resignation as CEO in 2023, she remains eminently influential with AI through Boden Ltd, and also her family office, BodenOffice.com. She believes passionately in financial inclusion and is currently aiming to bring about leveraged positive changes with technology worldwide.
- Ananya Birla, Chairperson & Director, Svatantra Microfin –
Ananya Birla, Chairperson and Director of Svatantra Microfin, is a young and dynamic entrepreneur who founded the company at the early age of 17. With her as the Director, the company has grown to become the second-largest microfinance institution in India, recently raising ₹1,930 crores in PE investments. She also heads Svatantra Micro Housing and serves on the boards of several Aditya Birla Group companies. Her leadership has made Svatantra a standout example of how Microfinance Women are driving large-scale transformation in financial inclusion. Ananya is also an entrepreneur in beauty, music, and mental health through Mpower, representing an unusual mix of innovation, empathy, and business prowess. She continues to champion Women Empowerment in Microfinance, proving how social responsibility and business excellence can go hand in hand.
In conclusion, in 2025, women-led financial firms are not just rare - they are leading the way forward. These leaders are breaking old rules, building new ideas, and showing that strong business results can go hand in hand with real-world impact. From fintech founders to female hedge fund managers, women are leaving an imprint across every segment of the financial world. With fresh thinking, clear goals, and a people-first mindset, they are changing how financial leadership is seen. Together, they are creating a future where finance is smarter, fairer, and more meaningful, driven by leaders who believe in purpose, not just profit.
