Who was Accenture’s first female CEO?

Julie Sweet, appointed CEO of Accenture in September 2019 and chair in 2021, has spearheaded the firm’s digital transformation and global growth [1]. Under her leadership, Accenture launched a $3 billion AI investment plan to double its data and AI workforce to 80,000 specialists [2]. She also navigated geopolitical challenges, including Accenture’s rapid exit from Russia during the Ukraine conflict, a move that highlighted her focus on ethics and agility [3].

Beyond financial growth, Sweet has prioritized sustainability, diversity, and responsible AI, embedding these into the company’s core values [4].

How Much Does Julie Sweet Make at Accenture?

According to Accenture’s 2024 proxy statement, Julie Sweet earned $24.9 million in total compensation. This package included:

• Salary: $1.55 million

• Bonus: $2 million

• Equity awards: $21 million

• Other compensation: ~$316,500 [5]

  
  

Her compensation is heavily performance-driven, reflecting her focus on shareholder value and strategic outcomes.

Who Is the Female CEO of Accenture?

Julie Sweet is the first woman to become CEO of Accenture [1]. She leads nearly 774,000 employees worldwide and continues to expand Accenture’s footprint in AI, cloud, and digital transformation [2]. Her rise marked a significant milestone for the Fortune Global 500 company, breaking barriers both for women in tech and for leaders with non-traditional consulting backgrounds.

How Did Julie Sweet Become CEO of Accenture?

Sweet earned her Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School before joining Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where she worked as a corporate lawyer for 17 years [1]. In 2010, she joined Accenture as General Counsel. By 2015, she was CEO of Accenture North America, the company’s largest market [2].

Her willingness to take on “stretch roles,” even during personal challenges such as a cancer diagnosis, defined her leadership journey [6]. When asked to step into the global CEO role in 2019, she saw it as both a challenge and an opportunity to reshape Accenture for the future.

Julie Sweet: Education, Career, and Values

Sweet’s values shape her leadership. She emphasizes confidence, competence, and continuous learning as essential traits for executives [6]. She also champions diversity and responsible innovation, believing that businesses must act as forces for good in society [4]. These priorities explain why she is consistently recognized as one of the most powerful women in business.

Related: Why CEOs Swear by Adult Learning as the Ultimate Brain Hack

Related: How Lloyd Blankfein Proved CEOs Don’t Need Business Degrees

Sources

1. Accenture – Leadership profile (Accenture.com)

2. Axios – “Accenture’s $3B AI Investment” (Axios.com)

3. IndMoney – “Accenture Exits Russia Under Julie Sweet” (Indmoney.com)

4. TIME – “Julie Sweet on Responsible Business Leadership” (Time.com)

5. Salary.com – Julie Sweet 2024 Compensation Report (Salary.com)

6. Economic Times – Julie Sweet on Stretch Roles and Leadership (Economictimes.com)