In 2024, women held 30% of senior leadership positions in the U.S. workforce. Across diverse sectors, women are challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries, and reshaping their fields with innovation and determination. These disruptors are more than leaders—they are visionaries using their unique perspectives to drive meaningful change.
From tech and media to coaching and finance, their impact is transformative, influencing not just their industries but the world at large. This article celebrates the top 10 women disruptors of 2024, spotlighting their stories of resilience, passion, and groundbreaking achievements.
So let’s take a closer look at their journeys and get inspired by them.
1. Holly J. Moore
Holly J. Moore, founder of Moore Family Law Group, is transforming family law with a compassionate, client-centered approach. Disturbed by the lack of humanity in traditional family law, Holly set out to create a practice that treats clients as whole people, not just cases. Her firm offers unique programs to support clients in every aspect of their lives and dedicates staff to providing consistent, caring communication—an initiative that stands out in a field often criticized for impersonal service. Committed to destigmatizing prenups, Holly helps couples navigate the legal aspects of marriage proactively. With over 20 team members who believe in her vision, Holly is redefining family law by leading with compassion, empathy, and innovation.
2. Kristin Bone
Kristin Bone, a leader across multiple industries, is reshaping entertainment and healthcare through innovative approaches and a fearless commitment to transformation. As a producer for Pony, an inspiring film about female racers that also tackles mental health awareness, she leverages her background as a psychiatric RN to bring impactful, educational narratives to life. In addition, Kristin’s involvement with Gaimchng3r Entertainment’s latest project highlights urgent social issues affecting youth, demonstrating her passion for using film as a catalyst for societal change. With a career spanning healthcare, financial services, and entertainment, Kristin exemplifies resilience and creativity, embracing challenges and redefining leadership to create meaningful, global impact.
3. Diane Gilman
Diane Gilman, founder of Shining Future LLC and creator of the groundbreaking DG2 jean, has been a disruptor and advocate for women over 50. Inspired by her own experience with aging, Diane recognized a gap in fashion for middle-aged women, developing jeans that not only fit evolving bodies but also restored confidence and empowerment. Her passion for supporting women extends through her podcast, Too Young To Be Old, and her upcoming cookbook and fourth book focused on health and aging. With her unique blend of fashion, advocacy, and dedication, Diane is reshaping society’s perception of women over 50, proving they deserve respect, visibility, and stylish choices tailored to their needs.
4. Kasey D’Amato
Kasey D’Amato is a transformative leader and business coach, dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs to achieve success while maintaining a balanced lifestyle. With extensive experience across five businesses, including three of her own, Kasey has mastered the art of navigating growth, coast, and contract phases of business while intentionally balancing business demands with emotional well-being. Her unique “Wheel of Leadership Success” framework and 90-day beta test approach to action taking and decision-making have enabled her to lead with clarity, confidence, and resilience. Kasey’s passion for supporting women in business has led her to mentor clients who achieve multi seven-figure success while balancing self-care and family life. A sought-after speaker across the nation at entrepreneur events and prestigious university campus events held at USC, UCLA, and the University of Miami, Kasey is also writing a book and developing in person leadership retreats to further inspire and support the next generation of female leaders. Her story is a testament to the power of failure, self-reflection, and perseverance.
5. Felicia Pham
Dr. Felicia Pham, known by her full legal name, Dr. Pham Minh Phuong, is a distinguished leader and disruptor in the field of education and entrepreneurship. As Managing Partner of Sunwah English Education and Regional Ambassador of Said Business School, Oxford University, she has successfully bridged the gap between global academic institutions and the Vietnamese market. With a passion for classic English literature since childhood, Dr. Felicia defied societal expectations and overcame gender-based prejudices to pursue her dreams. Her commitment to personal growth, strategy, and resilience has led to numerous achievements, including becoming a key figure and Founding Shareholder of Sunwah English Education, an educational sector of Sunwah Group, one of Asia’s largest conglomerates. An entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, and lecturer, Dr. Felicia continues to inspire others to embrace their unique paths and persist in the pursuit of their goals, no matter the challenges. Her story is a testament to the power of self-belief and determination in achieving success.
6. Maria Ross
Maria Ross is a visionary leader and disruptor in the fields of branding, marketing, and leadership. As the founder of Red Slice, LLC, Maria has dedicated her career to transforming leaders and organizations through empathy, challenging the traditional “either/or” mentality by promoting a “both/and” approach—balancing empathy with high performance and accountability. She passionately believes that we can practice empathy at work to get all the benefits the research shows and it will spill over into our personal lives and greater world. Her work, including her TEDx talk, her just-released book, The Empathy Dilemma, and her previous best-selling book, The Empathy Edge, highlights the transformative power of empathy in leadership, advocating for a human-centered approach to success. Maria’s unique insights have helped organizations and leaders thrive by building strong, connected teams. Her podcast, The Empathy Edge, continues to grow as a global platform for spreading these ideas, while her dynamic keynotes, leadership training, and courses inspire others to lead with compassion to achieve radical success. Maria’s mission is simple: make the world more empathetic for the next generation, starting at work.
7. Christin Baker
Christin Baker is a pioneer in LGBTQ+ media representation, disrupting the film and streaming industry by founding Tello Films 17 years ago, a platform dedicated exclusively to lesbian content. Through her groundbreaking work, including directing the first lesbian-led holiday romantic comedy, Season of Love, she has bridged significant gaps in representation and provided authentic narratives for an underserved community. With Tello Films, she created a safe and inclusive space, employing innovative strategies like crowdfunding and sponsoring lesbian-led publications and businesses to directly engage the LGBTQ+ audience. Her mission continues to inspire diverse storytelling and reshape mainstream media.
8. Linda L. Richards
Linda L. Richards is a bold voice in fiction and non-fiction, known for challenging conventional ideas and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Her work often explores uncharted territory, tackling complex topics that others shy away from. In 2023, a non-fiction book that questioned established historical narratives was published. It was a bold move that some predicted would be ridiculed. Instead, her perseverance paid off as her ideas began gaining mainstream acceptance. With award-winning novels and a possible TV series based on one of her books on the horizon, Linda continues to inspire with her innovative approach to storytelling, proving that following one’s vision can lead to powerful change.
9. Dr. Anna Erat
Dr. Anna Erat is transforming healthcare by championing a shift from reactive “sick-care” to a proactive health-focused model. Integrating wearables, telemedicine, and AI-driven tools in her practice, she empowers patients to actively manage their health, optimizing resilience, quality of life, and longevity. Dr. Erat believes in making preventative and longevity medicine accessible to all, not just an elite few, and is passionate about reforming policies to prioritize health optimization over mere disease treatment. Her vision emphasizes digitalization and inclusivity, driving meaningful change to improve health literacy and extend healthspan on a broad scale. Dr. Erat’s approach exemplifies the power of innovation and advocacy in shaping a healthier future.
10. Dr. Michelle R. Hannah
Dr. Michelle R. Hannah is a trailblazer in the world of personal development and transformation. As the founder of Mikel Life Coaching LLC and creator of The Self Vows series, Dr. Hannah has pioneered a holistic approach to self-awareness, accountability, and purpose, empowering individuals across all age groups. Her innovative programs, including The Self Vows Littles and The Self Vows for Teens, instill emotional intelligence and self-love in younger generations, building strong foundations for personal growth. With bestselling books and transformative coaching programs, Dr. Hannah has inspired countless people to embrace their authentic selves, creating lasting change in both personal and professional spaces.