The global tech industry is increasingly proving to be a welcoming space for female leadership built from the ground up. In the latest release of Forbes Self-Made Women 2025, as many as 25 out of the 100 wealthiest self-made women in the United States come from the technology sector, marking a shift in gender dominance in an industry long associated with men.
At the top of the tech sector stands Judy Faulkner, the founder and figure behind the success of healthcare software giant, Epic Systems. With an estimated net worth of $7.8 billion (equivalent to IDR 139.9 trillion based on the exchange rate of IDR 17,938.50 per US dollar), Faulkner ranks second overall and leads the list of the wealthiest women in the tech world. Her journey began in 1979 from a modest basement in Wisconsin, transforming it into the largest provider of electronic medical records systems in the US.
Following in the next position is Thai Lee, CEO of SHI International, with a net worth of $6.1 billion (around IDR 109.4 trillion). Under her leadership, this IT services provider has grown into a major powerhouse with annual revenues surpassing $16 billion. Third place is held by Jayshree Ullal, CEO of Arista Networks, who recorded a fortune of $4.4 billion (around IDR 78.9 trillion) thanks to her role in strengthening cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
In addition to the founders, this prestigious list also highlights resilient executives who have successfully led their companies to the peak of success. Names such as former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg ($2.3 billion), AMD CEO Lisa Su ($820 million), and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell ($1.2 billion) also extend this list. The presence of other female leaders from Oracle, Cloudflare, to Nvidia confirms that the path to financial success and global influence is now wide open for both founders and professional executives.
The strengthening representation of women in various technology sub-sectors—ranging from semiconductors, cyber infrastructure, to AI development—shows a significant shift in the business landscape. The success of these figures is expected to not only inspire new, more inclusive innovations but also motivate the younger generation of women to pursue careers and lead in future strategic sectors.
