Today we celebrate the women who lead operations and drive transformation at the world’s biggest manufacturers, inspiring and innovating across the field

Despite sector-wide initiatives, organisations and campaigns, women continue to be underrepresented in manufacturing.

As of 2025, women occupy less than a third (30%) of manufacturing workforce roles globally, with only 19% holding leadership positions. 

This disparity is down to a myriad of factors, one being a lack of representation. Challenging this, the sector today has more female leaders than ever before, using their expertise and talent to drive meaningful change and shape the industry’s future. 

When it comes to our top ten, their impact is shaping the trajectory of the world’s biggest manufacturers.

10: Lynne McConnell, Director of Manufacturing & Packing at Thermo Fisher Scientific

Revenue: US$42.37bnEmployees: 122,000+CEO: Marc N. Casper Founded: 1956

A highly-experienced business director who’s worked across manufacturing, service and biological life science, Lynne drives innovation, efficiency and success at Thermo Fisher Scientific. 

With a Six Sigma Black Belt from Lenovo Company Motorola Mobility, Lynne is an expert in lean management and process improvement, guiding teams across operations. She has held various roles across pharmaceutical manufacturing, including COO at Central Pharma.

9: Arvis S. Williams, Vice President Global Quality & Manufacturing Engineering, BorgWarner

Revenue: US$14.17bnEmployees: 39,900CEO: Frédéric LissaldeFounded:1928

Having held previous senior manufacturing roles at General Motors, Toyota, Daimler- Chrysler and Fiat-Chrysler, Arvis brings experience as a proven change agent to her role at mobility leader BorgWarner.

Overseeing manufacturing engineering, project management and lean implementation, she describes herself on LinkedIn as a “servant-leader capable of teaching, motivating and empowering employees to exceed business objectives”. 

With extensive expertise in executing strategic business plans, realising sustainability and increasing revenue, Arvis ensures BorgWarner effectively navigates a rapidly-evolving automotive sector.

8: Arleen Paulino, Senior Vice President Global Manufacturing at Amgen

Revenue: US$35.7bnEmployees: 26,000CEO: Robert A. BradwayFounded: 1980

Arleen Paulino is Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Amgen, the global biotechnology manufacturer. 

A seasoned leader, Arleen oversees technological advancement and applied process engineering at the manufacturer, drawing on her experience of end-to-end value chain management. 

Named one of the Fiercest Women In Life Sciences by Fierce Pharma, Arleen drives the successful commercialisation of biologics whilst advocating for diversity, inclusion and talent development in the industry. She has a BS in Biochemistry from Marquette University.

7: Corinne Burrows, Vice President of Global Manufacturing at JTI

Revenue: 2778.6bn Yen ( US$19.17bn) Employees: 46,000CEO: Eddy PirardFounded: 1999

Featured in the November 2024 edition of Manufacturing Digital Magazine, Corinne Burrows is a trailblazing manufacturing and supply chain leader with a background in mechanical engineering. 

Beginning her career journey with a mechanical engineering apprenticeship in the UK defence industry, Corinne now drives manufacturing strategy and success at JTI, one of the world’s biggest tobacco manufacturers.

She has spearheaded the company’s initiatives to create sustainable factories, embrace Industry 4.0 and enhance resiliency across the supply chain.

6: Janette Hostletter, VP at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing

Revenue: US$152.2bnEmployees: 370,000CEO: Koji SatoFounded: 1937

Janette Hostletter is an inspiring and dedicated leader in automotive manufacturing. 

A Toyota veteran, Janette has spent more than 24 years at the company. Having started out as a quality engineering specialist, today she oversees operations at the company’s Kentucky plant. Established in 1986, it is a pivotal economic driver for the manufacturer's US operations.

5: Kristen Pforr, Vice President Operations, BASF

Revenue: US$70.83bn Employees: 12,000 CEO: Dr. Markus Kamieth Founded: 1865

Kristen Pforr is the Vice President of Operations at BASF, the world’s largest chemicals company. 

With more than 25 years of experience across chemical manufacturing, Kristen heads up BASF’s Care Chemicals NA operations, overseeing eight manufacturing sites and one process development factory. She is also a key member of the LLC management committee, supporting US$1bn in sales.

With a BA from Kansas State University in Chemical Engineering, Kristen continues to gain admiration and accolades for her cool, confident and collaborative approach to manufacturing leadership.

4: Angela Morris, Head of Global IT Manufacturing Capabilities at The Kraft Heinz Company

Revenue: US$26.13bn Employees: 36,000 CEO: Carlos Abrams-Rivera Founded: 2015

As Industry 4.0 continues to rapidly transform manufacturing, those in charge of manufacturers' technology and IT are determining their competitiveness and future. 

Angela Morris, Head of Global IT Manufacturing Capabilities at The Kraft Heinz Company, is one of these people. 

Leading IT digital transformation for the food and beverage leader, she works to unite the organisation’s OT and IT capabilities whilst driving strategic change through growing operational connectivity and adopting innovative technologies.

3: Peggy Gulick, Vice President of Innovation and Optimisation, General Motors

Revenue: US$47.97bn Employees: 163,000 CEO: Mary Barra Founded: 1908

Peggy Gulick is the Vice President of Innovation & Optimisation at GM, the American automotive giant. 

Refining operations to deliver maximum value and competitiveness, she’s an expert in manufacturing innovation and digital transformation. 

Having previously been Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement, Energy at Kohler, Peggy is known for her community involvement and board activity. She is a member of the executive board of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence (AME) and Women In Manufacturing (WiM).

2: Elizabeth Hoegeman, Executive Director, Global Manufacturing at Cummins

Revenue: US$34.2bn Employees: 60,000 CEO: Jennifer Rumsey Founded: 1919

Elizabeth Hoegeman is Executive Director of Global Manufacturing at Cummins. 

Having spent almost 25 years at the company, Elizabeth has received a wealth of promotions from her original role as Continuous Improvement Manager. 

Having served in roles across the organisation from purchasing to plant management to engineering, she has a holistic understanding of how to drive operational improvements and long-term strategic change at Cummins.

Fostering diverse global teams and leading on bold manufacturing strategies, Elizabeth is enthusiastic about mentoring, supporting and uplifting the future of the industry. 

She has a MA in Engineering/Industrial Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology and was inducted into the Women In Manufacturing (WiM) hall of fame in 2024.

1: Stephanie Pullings Hart, Executive Vice President and Head of Operations at Nestlé

Revenue: US$75.8bn Employees: 270,000 CEO: Laurent Freixe Founded:1866

Stephanie Pullings Hart is Executive Vice President and Head of Operations at Nestlé. 

A seasoned executive with more than two decades of global supply chain and manufacturing expertise, she’s a long-standing Nestlé veteran who previously spent 23 years with the organisation in roles ranging from factory management to R&D to human resources. 

Before rejoining Nestlé in 2023, Stephanie served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Warby Parker, managing manufacturing, supply chain and customer experience. Prior to this, she held a similar role at Beyond Meat, where she played a pivotal part in transforming the company's manufacturing and supply chain strategies to drive sales growth.

Stephanie is a strategic and growth-oriented leader, shaping the manufacturing expansion and digital transformation of Nestlé, the world’s biggest food & beverage manufacturer. 

She holds a BA in Chemical Engineering, an EM of Business Administration and completed the Mastering Technology Enterprises program at IMD Lausanne in Switzerland.

To read the full story in the magazine, click HERE.

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