New Research Debunks Myth about Women’s Ambition; Senior Leaders Redefine it with Multihyphenate Careers

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 27, 2025--

A new national survey from Chief, the most powerful membership and community platform for senior women leaders, and The Harris Poll reveals women’s ambition isn’t fading, it’s evolving. Contrary to some media reports, today’s senior women leaders are not stepping back, they’re stepping into power with renewed focus, redefined purpose, and a more expansive view of success — building multihyphenate careers centered on autonomy, flexibility, and impact.

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“Our findings echo what I’ve heard in thousands of conversations with Chief members over the past year,” said Alison Moore, CEO of Chief. “Leadership for women today is not a linear path. It’s multidimensional. That might mean leading from the C-Suite, building something new, investing in businesses, taking a power pause to chart what’s next, or joining boards. Often, it’s pursuing several of those ambitions all at once. The path is not the point. It’s having maximum optionality to define success on your own terms.”

Ambition Evolved
The survey found 86% of senior women leaders are more ambitious today than they were five years ago, with 92% feeling energized by the growth still ahead, and 92% agreeing with the statement: “I never stop thinking about how I can do more or something different with my career.”

Economic headwinds have become a catalyst for change, with 82% citing market disruption as their reason to explore new pathways of progression, meaning they are designing new multihyphenate careers that offer greater freedom and purpose.

The Bold Moves Mindset
The data shows a decisive shift away from “playing it safe.” An overwhelming 96% of senior women in recent years have made bold career moves, and 83% have navigated major transitions, 71% doing so by choice.

These are not reactive pivots, they are deliberate moves driven by a clear sense of agency and ambition.

When asked what motivates their career pivots most, women leaders cite growth (50%), meaningful impact (47%), and value alignment (45%). This shift reveals that purpose and progress sit at the center of ambition for modern women leaders.

The Rise of the Multihyphenate Leader
The average senior woman leader today holds three professional identities simultaneously. Success is no longer linear, it’s multidimensional. In fact, 92% of women feel emboldened to create their own career paths. They know the old rules no longer apply: 83% agree that the career playbook they were handed 20 years ago is obsolete.

Even 52% of women leaders in C-Suite roles have maintained portfolio careers, not relying solely on the corporate ladder.

Meeting Women Where They Are
Women’s definition of ambition may be evolving, but their belief in the power of community remains constant. The study found that 93% of women believe they have the collective power to build new “centers of influence;” 94% say being around other ambitious women fuels their own ambition, and two-thirds believe their problem solving accelerates when brainstorming with other women leaders on business challenges.

“Women’s career journeys have evolved, and we’re evolving Chief alongside them,” said Moore. “The new Chief experience is built for today’s senior women leaders, including multihyphenates. Wherever members are on their career journey, they’ll have access to coaching, programming and events, networking, expert-led sessions, Executive Education content, clubhouse spaces, and more, all tailored to their needs. Underpinning it all is a powerful community of brilliant women and the possibilities of our members’ boundless ambition.”

Notes to Editors:
To mark this moment, Chief wrote a letter to the career ladder. It is a rallying cry for every woman rewriting the rules of ambition. Watch here.

Read more here about the research from Chief and The Harris Poll, “Beyond the Ladder: Women Leaders Redefine Ambition”.

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Chief from September 18th to October 2nd, 2025, among n=1,008 respondents. The data is not weighted.

The sample is comprised of senior executive women and non-binary individuals with at least 15 years of corporate and/or non-profit experience, who have had a C-Suite role or a VP level or higher. Those who are no longer in an executive corporate or non-profit role had to be current business owners, entrepreneurs, founders, fractional workers, or consultants to qualify (n=126).

About Chief
Chief is the most powerful membership community and platform for today’s senior women leaders. In our community, members find the connection, insights, and support they need to catalyze their ambition. Learn more at chief.com.

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CONTACT: Press contact

Nisha Devarajan

[email protected]

KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA ANALYTICS WOMEN CONSUMER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS

SOURCE: Chief

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 10/27/2025 09:00 AM/DISC: 10/27/2025 09:00 AM

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