What Has Julie Sweet Done for Accenture?
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:
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Salary: $1.55 million
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Bonus: $2 million
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Equity awards: $21 million
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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
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Accenture – Leadership profile (Accenture.com)
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Axios – “Accenture’s $3B AI Investment” (Axios.com)
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IndMoney – “Accenture Exits Russia Under Julie Sweet” (Indmoney.com)
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TIME – “Julie Sweet on Responsible Business Leadership” (Time.com)
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Salary.com – Julie Sweet 2024 Compensation Report (Salary.com)
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Economic Times – Julie Sweet on Stretch Roles and Leadership (Economictimes.com)