Most Powerful Women in the World

Updated March 1, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Women leading some of the world's most influential organizations

Forbes, who also famously publishes lists of the world's wealthiest people and companies, also puts out a list of the world's most powerful women. These are women who hold major influence in shaping public policy and opinion, and who control large parts of the global economy. They include world leaders and CEOs of major corporations. 

Rank Name Age Title
1 Angela Merkel 65 Chancellor of Germany
2 Christine Lagarde 64 Managing director, International Monetary Fund
3 Nancy Pelosi 79 Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
4 Ursula von der Leyen 61 President of the European Commission
5 Mary Barra 58 CEO of General Motors
6 Melinda Gates 55 Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
7 Abigail Johnson 58 CEO of Fidelity Investments
8 Ana Patricia Botín 59 Chair of Santander Bank
9 Ginni Rometty 62 CEO of IBM
10 Marillyn Hewson 66 CEO of Lockheed Martin
11 Gail Boudreaux 59 CEO of Anthem
12 Susan Wojcicki 51 CEO of Youtube
13 Isabelle Kocher 53 CEO of Engie
14 Safra Catz 58 CEO of Oracle
15 Kristalina Georgieva 66 Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
16 Julie Sweet 52 CEO of Accenture
17 Emma Walmsley 51 CEO of GlaxoSmithKline
18 Sheryl Sandberg 50 COO of Facebook
19 Ruth Porat 62 CEO of Alphabet
20 Oprah Winfrey 66 Media mogul

Source: Forbes, 2019

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