Maggie McGrath

Today our family celebrated the life and legacy of my cousin, Alexis—a soul so bright and steady that it still feels impossible that she left us at 43 and not 103. There’s so much that can be said about her devotion to her family, her unyielding love for the Phillies and remarkable positivity in the face of an aggressive form of breast cancer. I won’t repeat words already written in her obituary or in the eulogy so eloquently delivered by her sister, though. Instead, I’ll share one hyper-specific reflection that, I think, speaks to Alexis’ grace and quiet impact on those who loved her. Alexis and I were both born with similarly dark hair—deep brown hair that makes every gray or white strand eminently obvious. But when Alexis started seeing streaks of gray on her head, she decided to let them stay. She didn’t color them, and she always—I mean ALWAYS—looked so chic. She is the reason that when my own grays started popping up in earnest in my 20s, I didn’t cover them up. I’d even show people her photo when they asked me when I was going to color my hair, the answer being a resounding “no-and-just-look-at-my-cool-older-cousin!” Alexis is the reason why, to this day, I still only go as far as gray-blending, not full coverage. It’s a small thing, really, but I was talking to a friend recently who said that *I’m* the reason she’s not dyeing her own grays. By the transitive property… well, you get it, right? This is just one of many ripples of change/love/acceptance Alexis created during her lifetime. We are so lucky ♥️

Six years in and the @Forbes 50 Over 50 list keeps getting more powerful!!! Nominations for the 2026 U.S. class are OFFICIALLY OPEN... and @mcgrathmag wants to hear about the women making their GREATEST IMPACT in life’s second half. Born in 1975 or earlier? Nominate yourself. Nominate someone you know. Nominate the woman who should have been on everyone’s radar years ago. You have until June 7th... but sooner is ALWAYS better. Head to the link in bio to submit!!

Q1 ‘26 / proof of life lived mostly in leggings under real clothes / proof of the most gorgeous Saloni dress that will need to wait for a rescheduled 30/50 to make its on stage debut (slide 9). #photodump #hibernation #stillatthecottage

Afghanistan is currently one of the world’s most dangerous countries for women and girls; it is also among the worst places in the globe for press freedom. So to be a female journalist is to risk arrest, imprisonment, and even death… and yet that is precisely the risk that Sana Atef (her pseudonym) takes every time she starts a new assignment as a reporter for the @zantimes_ , where she covers the lives of women and children under oppressive Taliban rule. Sana told me that these risks are worth it so that the world does not forget the voices and stories of Afghan women. “For not forgetting these females, we must do this job. It is our responsibility,” she said. I had the privilege of speaking with Sana recently; our full interview is linked in my stories/bio and I implore you all to read/watch/share—and to do the same with Sana’s work. Her reporting has shed light on the dangerous ramifications of the Taliban’s birth control ban; she’s published accounts of children as young as nine years old forced to become family breadwinners; she’s reported on what it’s like for women to try to work under Afghanistan’s male guardianship laws. I am so grateful to Zan Times founder/EIC Zahra Nader for coordinating a way to speak with Sana safely, and to Sana for taking the time to share her experience with the @forbes audience. It is my most fervent hope that one day we will be able to, as Sana put it, “see each other from near, and we will hug, and we will say ‘yeah, we did work [for] women, and for the world to know about them.’” ♥️ #profileofcourage #pressfreedom #iwd

“Day by day, the restrictions and limitations become more and more.” ⁣ ⁣ Sana Atef (a pseudonym she uses to protect her identity), Zan Times reporter, speaks to Forbes’ Maggie McGrath about life as a female journalist in Afghanistan. ⁣ ⁣ Read more at the link in our bio. #IWD2026 @zantimes_

A shiny new headshot means one thing around here… Maggie has a shiny new podcast (technically vodcast)! Today marked the official launch of C-Suite Unscripted, my deep dive into the corner offices of America (and beyond). These conversations are meant to give you an unvarnished look at how the world’s top executives think about AI, build strong teams, and what they did to get to their positions of power. You’ll also hear stories about using M&Ms to make life decisions (not even kidding) and the crazy lengths these folks have gone to prove a point. Need an example? Gijo Mathew, in slide 3, is now the chief product officer for Spring Health but once, way back in the early days of his career, hacked into his CEO’s email to make a case for a new cybersecurity product… his gamble turned into a $1 billion line of business. 🔗 in bio / you can also follow on Spotify and, soon, YouTube and Apple! Headshot credits (slide 1 and 4): 📸 by @guerinblask , 💄 combo of me + @suzanahallili C-Suite Unscripted brought to you by the ace @forbes video team: @kirstentaggart @ivanclow with Tim Pierson #news #leadershipadvice #podcast #vodcast #imsorrythiscaptionissolong

Less than 3 weeks until the @forbes x @knowyourvalue 30/50 Summit?! We CAN NOT WAIT! This event is designed for women who are ready to CONNECT, GROW and LEAD. Apply today in our link in bio to attend 🙌

This Winter Games marks a historic milestone: women are competing in a record 53% of events — the most ever. And the athletes leading the charge are unforgettable. ⛷️ Eileen Gu and Breezy Johnson bringing energy and excellence to the slopes. 🏔️ Lindsey Vonn reminding us, even when you get knocked down, what persistence looks like. 🏒 Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to compete in an Olympic game for U.S. hockey — and already scoring. ⛸️ Amber Glenn, making the team at the “OLD age” of 26 and proving experience is an asset, not a limitation. More events. More firsts. More women changing the standard on the world stage 🙌 Thank you @mcgrathmag and @humaabedin as always for your insights!

2025 was CHAL👏🏼LENG👏🏼ING👏🏼. But today, I’m trying not to dwell on the things that felt so heavy; I’m instead reflecting on the people, places and things that brought me joy, laughter, relief. And so, a smattering of the (mostly) previously unpublished: Scenes from Abu Dhabi and Killarney and Giant’s Causeway; a perfect millennial throwback concert; some of the highlights from the 55 books I read this year [a miraculous feat given myriad distractions]. I’m not one to believe that life resets when the calendar flips to a new year. I also know that much of what made ‘25 hard for so many will still exist at the stroke of midnight. To borrow an analogy from dance and yoga: My hope for 2026, for all of us, is that when we fall off our leg or lose our spot—when we wobble—we have enough confidence in our own strength to find stability and keep dancing ♥️ PS: I couldn’t tag more than 20 people but I love you all / you know who you are 🫶🏼 #2025 #thatsawrap

Let the 2025 reflections begin! I was going to do a compilation of interviews (and maybe I still will), but in light of one media outlet pulling an important story yesterday, I wanted to highlight this particular snippet of my September conversation with @karaswisher . I asked her what it takes to ask the questions and say the truths so many others are afraid to voice. Kara’s answer, in part: “I want to ask the question that people actually want to know.” In 2026, I hope all of us—journalists or not—can ask the right questions, even when (especially when) it feels hard. #forbespowerwomen #pressfreedom #2025rewind

Forbes’ @mcgrathmag explains why K-Pop Demon Hunters earned the No. 100 spot on the Most Powerful Women list — recognizing the women behind one of the most dominant cultural phenomena of the year.

November: The parts not spent on Amtrak! More specifically, celebrating bffs who run marathons and raise money for good causes; an incredible live art duel at FIT; a very lucky return visit to the home of someone whose work has made it possible for me to have the career I have… plus Central Park looking gorgeous on a moody Monday and my annual “classic novel / something I failed to read in high school and college English class” read, among other highlights. 🍁🍂🍃 #nycmarathon #autumninnewyork #unparalleled