The list of powerful women across the globe include US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and HCL Enterprise CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra. The women at the top is German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who maintained the same position for the 10th year in a row while European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde came second position for the second straight year.
Who are in the top 10?
Others in the top 10 include Ursula von der Leyen, Melinda Gates, Mary Barra, Nancy Pelosi, Ana Patricia Botín, Abigail Johnson and Gail Boudreaux. The 17th annual Forbes Power List comprises women from 30 countries who were born across four generations.
Merkel remains the de facto leader of Europe, leading the region's largest economy after steering Germany through financial crisis and back to growth. Harris, who became the first woman, first Black American and first Asian American to be elected vice president -- "an unprecedented trifecta of firsts for California Senator Harris", is ranked third on the list.
Described as “India's richest self-made woman”, Mazumdar-Shaw has been ranked 68th and chairwoman of Landmark Group Renuka Jagtiani is ranked 98th and HCL Enterprise CEO Nadar Malhotra has been ranked at 55th spot.
"There are 10 heads of state, 38 CEOs and five entertainers among them. But where they differ in age, nationality and job description, they are united in the ways they have been using their platforms to address the unique challenges of 2020,” Forbes said, as per the news agency PTI.
“From fighting the pandemic to re-engineering American politics, these influential women, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, are making history,” Forbes said.
Several of this year's Power Women received "global plaudits" for their effective responses to COVID-19.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (No. 32) vanquished a first and second wave of the virus in her country by implementing strict lockdown and quarantine procedures.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen (No. 37) implemented a rigorous contact-tracing program in January, as a result, to date, the island of 23 million people has lost only seven lives to the virus, Forbes said.
Who are the newcomers?
There are 17 newcomers on this year's list, illustrating that women are “leading all aspects of a society transformed by a global pandemic”.
New CEO of American multinational company United Parcel Service Carol Tomé (No. 11) and head of California-based Clorox Linda Rendle (No. 87) are responsible for helping provide essential services that have kept Americans connected and clean.
CVS Health executive vice-president and incoming CEO Karen Lynch (No. 38) leads the pharmacy giant’s vast Covid-19 testing programme and, in 2021 will be responsible for its critical handling of coronavirus vaccines.
Who are others in the list?
The list also includes Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg (22), Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (39), UK's Queen Elizabeth II (46), celebrated artistes Rihana (69) and Beyonce (72).