Dominique Senequier

Senequier keeps a relatively low profile, but the French businesswoman remains one of the most respected figures in the investment world. Senequier founded AXA Private Equity in 1997 with a single $140 million fund that today has grown into Ardian, one of Europe’s largest private equity firms. While businesses were grappling with the pandemic, Ardian quietly surpassed the $100 billion in assets-under-management (AUM) mark. With over 1,050 workers around the globe and $150 billion under her watch, Senequier is showing no signs of slowing down. Ardian’s headcount grew 16% in the past year, investor count increased by over 5%, and it opened the doors to a new Dubai office at the start of this year. What’s more, the venture and private equity world is heavily male-dominated—women account for around 20% of workers—but Ardian is bucking the trend; 42% of its new hires are women.