Replacing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, European Commission¡¯s President Ursula von der Leyen has topped Forbes' annual list of the world's most powerful women, with European Central Bank's President Christine Lagarde in second place.?
64-year-old Von der Leyen was also included in Time's list of 100 Most Influential People of 2020 and again in 2022.
¡°Today¡¯s most powerful women are leading on the world stage across every industry and sphere of influence,¡± said Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President, Forbes.
¡°In a year marked by uncertainty and volatility, women¡¯s power is being leveraged beyond economic and political might to transform industries and solve society's most urgent issues.¡± Forbes revealed its annual list of the 100 most powerful women last month.
Both European leaders rose in the annual rankings due to their critical role in galvanizing EU member states to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
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¡°Protecting our liberty comes at a price,¡± von der Leyen said. ¡°This is our principle: freedom is priceless.¡±
For her leadership during the Ukraine war, as well as her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, von der Leyen sits atop the 19th annual Forbes list of the World¡¯s 100 Most Powerful Women.?
64-year-old Von der Leyen said that supporting Ukraine comes at a high cost but freedom was "priceless". From last year's top rank, philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott slipped to the 11th position in this year¡¯s list.
The 19th annual list from Forbes sees a higher number of women in banking, with Kristalina Georgieva at the International Monetary Fund(IMF)to Janet Yellen at the U.S. Treasury both on the list.
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Born on 8 October 1958 in Belgium, Ursula von der Leyen was appointed president of the European Commission in July 2019. She is the first woman to serve in the role, which is responsible for legislation affecting more than 450 million Europeans.?
As per Forbes, from 2005 until 2019, von der Leyen served in Angela Merkel's cabinet--the longest tenure of any cabinet member. For the last six years of her time in the cabinet, she was Germany's Defense Minister. She also spearheaded a 750 million Euro Covid relief bill in 2020 and, in 2022, became one of the West's staunchest supporters of Ukraine amid Russia's unprovoked invasion.
President of the European Commission
2019 - present
Federal Minister of Defence, Germany
2013-2019
Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
2009-2013
Member of the German Bundestag
2009-2019
Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
2005-2009
Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family Affairs and Health in Lower Saxony, Germany
2003-2005
Member of the CDU in the State Assembly of Lower Saxony
2003-2005
Member of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union)
Since 1990
Member of the academic staff, Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research, Hanover Medical School (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, MHH)
1998-2002
As the head of the European Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen decides on the organization of the Commission and allocates portfolios to individual Commissioners. The President also sets the Commission's policy agenda.
She represents the Commission in European Council meetings, G7 and G20 summits, summits with non-EU countries and major debates in the European Parliament and the Council.
For the uninitiated,?the?European?Commission is?the executive branch of the European Union, and?helps to shape the?EU's overall strategy, proposes new EU laws and policies, monitors their implementation and manages the EU budget. It also plays a significant role in supporting international development and delivering aid.
European?Commission's?Ursula von der Leyen visited India In April 2022. During her visit, the European Union and?India?agreed to launch a shared trade and technology council when President Ursula met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
1.Ursula von der Leyen
President, European Commission
2.Christine Lagarde
President, European Central Bank
3.Kamala Harris
Vice President, United States
4.Mary Barra
CEO, General Motors
5.Abigail Johnson
CEO, Fidelity Investments
6.Melinda French Gates
Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
7.Giorgia Meloni
Prime Minister, Italy
8.Karen Lynch
CEO, CVS Health
9.Julie Sweet
Chair & CEO, Accenture
10. Jane Fraser
CEO, Citigroup
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6 Indian women featured in Forbes' 2022 list of most powerful women.?
India¡¯s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ?Biocon? Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, ?Nykaa? Founder Falguni Nayar, HCLTech Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Securities And Exchange Board Of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and Steel Authority Of India Chairperson Soma Mondal are the six Indians who have made it to Forbes' annual list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
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