Elevance Health’s CEO started her career as a pro basketball player. Now she’s the highest‑ranking woman on the Global 500, leading a $199B giant

July 31, 2026 - 07:53

Gail Boudreaux did not start out in a boardroom. She started on a basketball court, playing college ball at Dartmouth and later professionally in France. Now, as the chief executive of Elevance Health, she holds the title of the highest-ranking woman on the Global 500 list, overseeing a company with a market value near $199 billion. But she says the lessons that got her there came long before she ever ran a major corporation.

In a recent interview, Boudreaux credited her time as a collegiate athlete with shaping how she approaches leadership today. She pointed to the discipline of practice, the ability to take direction from a coach, and the necessity of trusting teammates in high-pressure moments. Those experiences, she explained, taught her that success is rarely individual. It is built through shared goals and consistent preparation, something she now applies to managing a massive health benefits and services firm.

Boudreaux also spoke about the transition from sports to business. She noted that the competitive drive and resilience required on the court translated directly to navigating the complexities of the healthcare industry. She emphasized that losing a game or missing a shot was never the end of the story. Instead, it was about adjusting strategy and coming back stronger, a mindset she encourages among her executives.

Her rise to the top of Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem, has been marked by a focus on expanding access to care and using data to improve patient outcomes. She has steered the company through major acquisitions and a shifting regulatory landscape. Yet she remains grounded in the fundamentals she learned early on: show up prepared, listen to your team, and keep your eyes on the goal. For Boudreaux, the court and the corner office are not so different after all.