BlackEnterprise.com is always inspired by women who’ve defied gender roles and shattered the glass ceiling. We are proud to learn of five women who have climbed well up the ranks in their corporate circles, calling the shots as Chief Financial Officer at their billion-dollar companies. As we conclude Black History Month and welcome Women’s History Month, it’s the perfect time to honor and celebrate these five extraordinary black CFOs. Scroll through the following pages and get to know them.
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Tracey T. Travis, Estee Lauder
Tracey T. Travis is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Estée Lauder. Before taking her position in 2012, Travis spent seven years as the CFO to Ralph Lauren Corporation and three years as the SVP of Finance at Limited Brands. The power woman started as an engineer and a senior financial analyst at General Motors Co. Tracey graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and later received her Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Operations Management from Columbia University.
Glynis Bryan, Insight Enterprises, Inc.
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December 2007 Glynis Bryan joined Insight Enterprises as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Bryan has held several executive positions, including CFO of Swift Transportaion and CFO of APL Logistics. She graduated with honors from York University and acquired an MBA from Florida International University College of Business.Robin L. Washington, Gilead
Robin L. Washington joined Gilead in 2008 and sits as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She oversees Gilead’s finance, information technology and investor relations organizaitons. Before her current role, Washington was the CFO of Hyperion Solutions, later acquired by Oracle Corporation. The EVP and CFO graduated with bachelor’s in business administration from University of Michigan before getting her MBA from Pepperdine University.
Kathy N.Waller, The Coca-Cola Company
Kathy N. Waller is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. The University of Rochester graduate has been with the company since 1987, fulfilling a number of roles like Principal Accountant for the Northeast Europe/Africa Group and Chief of Internal Audit. Currently she oversees M&A, investor relations, tax, treasury, audit, accounting and controls, financial reporting and analysis, real estate and risk management.
Mary A. Winston, Family Dollar Stores, Inc.
For three years, Mary A. Winston has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Family Dollar Stores, Inc. She oversees finance and accounting, corporate communications and enterprise strategy functions. Previously, Ms. Winston served as VP and CFO for Giant Eagle, Inc. and EVP and CFO for Scholastic Corporation. She graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BBA and later acquired an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. The wife and mother of two currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.