Forbes 50 Over 50 2024: Meet Some Black Women In Tech Who Made The List
Forbes has unveiled its annual 50 over 50 list, highlighting dynamic female leaders and entrepreneurs who have achieved significant success later in life.
Let’s meet some Black women over 50 making moves in tech and proving that success has no age limit.
Carlotta Berry – Founder of NoireSTEMinist
Berry, 54, a robotics expert and engineering professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, founded NoireSTEMinist in 2020.
The educational consulting firm promotes diversity in STEM through workshops and products.
Berry also co-founded the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) program, co-directs a robotics program, and organizes FIRST Robotics competitions.
She also authors romance novels featuring Black STEM characters, embodying her mission to make STEM accessible to all.
Ayanna Howard – Dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering
Inspired by sci-fi stories, Howard, 52, has had an illustrious career in robotics, including a 12-year stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
She founded Zyrobotics, a nonprofit developing mobile therapy products for children with special needs.
Howard made history as the first woman to lead Ohio State’s College of Engineering, continuing to pave the way for future generations in STEM.
Dr. Sharon Malone – Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy
Dr. Malone, 65, transitioned from private practice to leading Alloy, a digital health platform addressing menopause and aging.
As Chief Medical Advisor, she guides a team treating mid-life women’s health issues.
Malone’s book, “Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy,” and her career journey reflect her dedication to supporting women through life’s transitions.
Dominique Shelton Leipzig – Partner at Mayer Brown
Shelton Leipzig, 57, is a top attorney specializing in data privacy and security.
With over 30 years of experience, she advises CEOs and boards on technology security.
Leipzig founded the Digital Trust Summit at Brown University and is inspired by her childhood correspondence with California’s first Black congresswoman, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.
Toni Townes-Whitley – CEO of SAIC
Townes-Whitley, 60, became CEO of SAIC, a $7.2 billion defense tech contractor, in 2023.
She reorganized its 24,000 employees across five national imperatives.
One of only two Black female CEOs among the nation’s 500 largest companies, Townes-Whitley’s 35-year tech career includes leadership roles at Microsoft and CGI.
Avis Yates Rivers – President & CEO of Technology Concepts Group International
Yates Rivers, 69, founded Technology Concepts Group International in 2008.
An advocate for diversity in STEM, she established the TCGi Foundation to support girls with scholarships and mentoring.
Her book, “Necessary Inclusion,” and recognition as a White House Champion of Change highlight her commitment to diversity.
