Every year, the authoritative edition of Forbes publishes a ranking of the most influential women in the world. In 2017, the list included women who have achieved success through colossal work and tremendous perseverance. Be sure that after reading this article you will seriously think about whether the weaker sex is really that weak.
This year, the rating included two Russian women: Margarita Simonyan (editor-in-chief of RT and Sputnik) and Elvira Nabiullina (chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation). They ranked 52nd and 49th, respectively.
10. Virginia Rometti
The success story of this influential woman has proven that men are not the only ones capable of running large corporations and skillfully building business strategies. Virginia Rometti became the first female CEO of IBM. It is worth noting that up to this point this post was held exclusively by men. Today Rometti is one of the most successful top managers in the world.
9. Ana Patricia Botin
Ana Botin is the most powerful woman in Spain. As a fifth generation banker, she has devoted almost 25 years to banking. She is responsible for the expansion of the group of commercial banks in Latin America, numerous acquisitions, as well as the reform of investment programs. Ana Patricia Botin is the director of the Spanish company Banesto, as well as the main Executive and International Committees.
8. Christine Lagarde
Christine Lagarde's career path is very multi-step. Throughout her life, she has changed about a dozen positions, most of which are ministerial. Previously, she was a member of various political parties of a liberal-conservative orientation, and was also a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. The main achievement that determined Lagarde's place on the Forbes list is that she became the first woman to serve as finance minister of the G8, and now also the head of the IMF.
7. Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson, since 2006, has consistently ranked among the top most influential and successful women according to Forbes magazine. Her father Edward Johnson, the CEO of Fidelity Investments, helped a lot to achieve this. His daughter is the vice president of it, and is also considered the sole heiress of this family business. According to rough estimates, Abigail Johnson's fortune is estimated at $ 13 billion.
6. Susan Wogiski
"Nothing is impossible in this world." This is exactly what the credo of this strong and successful woman sounds like. For a long time, Wojiski was vice president of advertising at Google. And then, when a competitor to You Tube appeared on the horizon, Susan decided to buy it out, not fight it. This is how YouTube got a new boss.
5. Mary Barra
Mary Barra is the first woman to hold the post of CEO of the largest automobile concern General Motors. Her appointment to this position was a historic moment for the company, as GM is a symbol of conservative America, with men in traditional tailored suits. Many saw a challenge in the fact that the post of CEO was taken by an electrical engineer, and not an automotive engineer as it should be.
4. Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is one of those authoritative women who are said to have made herself.She was a simple student from an ordinary average family. Today Cheryl is vice president of sales and operations at Google. In addition, she is an ardent fighter for women's rights.
3. Melinda Gates
No wonder they say that behind every successful man is a wise woman. The story of Bill Gates and his wife Melinda is a vivid confirmation of this theory. At the time of their acquaintance, she was not one of those girls who are eagerly looking for a billionaire, because by that time Melinda herself was a very wealthy businesswoman. Now the couple are happily living in Washington, in a huge mansion worth several billion dollars.
2. Theresa May
The new Prime Minister of Great Britain, who replaced Cameron, Theresa May, from the very first days in her new position, showed everyone her vision of conservatism. It is not for nothing that the status of a "lead lady" was entrenched for her, which is fully justified by her policy - flexible, but very tough.
1. Angela Merkel
According to Forbes, Merkel is the most powerful female politician in the past three years. During her tenure as chancellor of Germany, she has done a lot to improve the country's domestic and foreign policy. Angela Merkel is sometimes called the "Teutonic Margaret Thatcher".
Today more and more women are occupying important positions in various spheres of society: politics, economics, entrepreneurship. The very fact that a woman has equal rights with a man and her opinions and decisions are taken into account with the same degree of seriousness speaks of a big step towards a civilized liberal society.