Forbes’ 18th annual list of powerful women features 40 CEOs, 19 World Leaders, an immunologist, and a new number one for the first time in a decade. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has long reigned supreme on Forbes‘ list, having served an incredible 16 years at the helm of Europe’s most powerful economy. As women continue to bear a disproportionate share of the pandemic’s burden and rise to the challenge of guiding us toward recovery. There is one trend that has accelerated and intensified this year. That power now extends beyond traditional titles. It can be exercised effectively and impactfully in unconventional ways.
Forbes’ most powerful women: Who is number 1 this year?
MacKenzie Scott takes the top spot, exemplifying our more expansive view of power with her emergence as a philanthropic heavyweight, albeit a relatively new one. Her power stems from not running a large corporation, a country, or a government agency. “There is no doubt that Scott is single-handedly upending the model of how billionaires give away fortunes while supporting causes that look to disrupt the status quo,” writes ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath.
More Influence in more places
The most important takeaway from 2021 is that women’s influence is now seen across more power corridors. And with greater consistency than ever before. The accomplishments of this year’s listees range from Wall Street to Hollywood and are impressive in and of themselves. When Jane Fraser (#14) took over as CEO of Citi earlier this year. She broke through one of banking’s long-standing glass ceilings. Reese Witherspoon (#74) and newly-minted billionaire Rihanna (#68) became the highest-earning female talent in their respective fields by making bold bets that recast narratives, upended traditional business models, and established new industry standards. Cathie Wood (#53), the founder of Ark Invest, is a newcomer to the list and a superstar investor.
Frontlines of the Pandemic
Ozlem Tureci (#48), cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of BioNTech, made history this year. The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine she developed with her husband was the first to receive FDA approval in the United States. GlaxoSmithKline’s Emma Walmsley (#13) is leading the company’s promising antibody treatment. CVS Health’s Karen Lynch (#11) and Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Rosalind Brewer (#17). In addition to being the first woman to lead their organizations, are now S&P’s highest-ranking female CEO. And the only Black female CEO, respectively.