News & Insights

The Uneven Path of Women in Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship

The conversation around women in leadership is no longer about whether progress is happening, but about how uneven and fragile that progress remains. According to LinkedIn’s Global Economic Graph, women currently hold 30.6% of leadership roles across 74 countries, a modest number compared to their 43.4% representation in the workforce overall (LinkedIn, 2024). McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report highlights a similar pattern: women account for nearly half of entry-level roles but hold just 29% of C-suite positions (McKinsey, 2024). Fortune 500 companies tell an even starker story, with only 10.4% of CEOs being women as of last year (Catalyst, 2024). Globally, women hold just 6% of CEO roles, 8.4% of board chair positions, and 23.3% of board seats, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 2023). Even in the S&P 500, where representation has improved over time, women still account for less than 10% of CEOs in 2025 (Women’s Power Gap, 2025).

The $37 Trillion Wake-Up Call: What Record U.S. Debt Means for Your Business

The U.S. national debt has jumped past $37 trillion as of August 12, 2025, years ahead of forecasts, according to APNews. Additionally, this rapid rise, fueled by pandemic-related borrowing and new laws adding $4.1 trillion more by 2035, now sees the country piling on $1 trillion every five months over double recent trends. For your business, these numbers are more than abstract: they signal immediate financial pressures demanding attention.

Government Impersonation Frauds: Understanding and Avoiding a Growing Threat

Fraudsters are increasingly using government impersonation fraud to deceive and exploit individuals. This form of scam involves criminals posing as officials from trusted government agencies to pressure victims into providing personal information or money. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. These scams rely on fear, urgency, and the authority of government entities to manipulate targets, making them both effective and dangerous.

5 Existential Questions Every CFO Must Ask in 2025

The role of the Chief Financial Officer has been stretched, reshaped, and redefined. Gone are the days of the finance chief as a retrospective scorekeeper. Today, in a landscape of economic ambiguity and rapid technological disruption, the CFO is a forward-looking strategist and a critical partner to the CEO. As a recent CFO.com survey highlights, 82% of finance leaders report facing increased responsibilities over the last five years, expanding into corporate strategy, risk management, and digital transformation. In this demanding new environment, having the right answers is secondary to asking the right questions.

Government Impersonation Frauds: Understanding and Avoiding a Growing Threat

Fraudsters are increasingly using government impersonation fraud to deceive and exploit individuals. This form of scam involves criminals posing as officials from trusted government agencies to pressure victims into providing personal information or money. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams were filed in 2023 alone, with reported losses exceeding $260 million. These scams rely on fear, urgency, and the authority of government entities to manipulate targets, making them both effective and dangerous.

Navigating Disruption with Data, Strategy, and Vision

Strategic planning has become a critical skill for CFOs. According to Travelers’ 2024 CFO study, 62% of CFOs consider strategic planning their most valued skill, highlighting its importance in future-proofing organizations. This shift underscores the CFO's role in managing not just finances, but also in shaping the company’s direction amid economic uncertainties.

How Uncertainty Can Be a Competitive Business Advantage

Uncertainty is not just a challenge; it can be an opportunity. While many organizations stall or retreat when markets become volatile, others sometimes adapt, accelerate, and gain market share. The key difference often lies in leadership and strategies. Resilient leaders do not wait for clarity, they navigate through the fog.

According to KPMG 2024 report, 72% of CEOs indicate that the current economic environment is the most volatile they have ever experienced. Yet, some of the most successful companies of the past two decades such as Airbnb, Uber, and Slack were launched or scaled during economic downturns. This is not a coincidence, it clearly illustrates that effective leadership in uncertain times can create lasting competitive advantages.

From Financial Steward to Strategic Powerhouse

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has transformed significantly. CFOs are no longer limited to traditional financial stewardship; instead, they have become central figures in driving strategic growth and innovation within organizations.

Historically, CFOs were primarily responsible for financial reporting and risk management. Today, they play a critical role in strategic decision-making. According to Gartner, CFOs are increasingly expected to align their organization's cost structure with unique capabilities and to act as executive champions in enterprise-wide data and analytics governance.

This shift is further illustrated by the rising number of CFOs transitioning into CEO roles. A 2023 survey by Heidrick & Struggles revealed that nearly one-third of FTSE 100 CEOs were former CFOs, an increase from 21% in 2019.

Mental Health Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the business landscape, with approximately 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing 42% of all companies, according to Psychology Today. However, the entrepreneurial journey often presents unique mental health challenges for women, stemming from societal expectations, systemic biases, and the various roles they undertake.

Discover the Phoenix area's fastest-growing banks by deposits

The banks operating in the Phoenix area hold more than $8 trillion in total combined deposits as of Dec. 31, 2024, marking a 1.46% increase over what was reported in the year-earlier period.

The online version of this ranking expands beyond what appears in print; another 36 banks are included in our digital rankings, in addition to the 20 featured in this week's print edition.