Former pro basketball player now leads Elevance Health, tops Global 500 women CEOs
Gail Boudreaux, who began her career as a professional basketball player in France, is now CEO of Elevance Health, the highest-ranking female chief executive on the 2026 Fortune Global 500.
Gail Boudreaux’s professional journey started on a French basketball court in Versailles, where she played for a year after graduating from Dartmouth College. She transitioned to the corporate world with Aetna, spending two decades before leading Blue Cross of Illinois and becoming UnitedHealthcare’s first female CEO in 2011. Taking over Anthem in 2017, she later renamed the firm Elevance Health to reflect a shift toward comprehensive health services.
Under her leadership, the company posted $199.1 billion in revenue, ranking 31st on the 2026 Fortune Global 500 and making Boudreaux the top-ranked woman on the list. Her sports experience shapes her management style, especially in recruiting athletes for their teamwork and adaptability. The profile underscores a gradual increase in women CEOs—38 of the Global 500 are led by women, with a record 55 at Fortune 500 firms—while noting the continued gender gap.
Why it matters
Boudreaux’s rise shows how diverse experiences can drive corporate success and highlights the slow but growing presence of women at the highest business levels.
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