The U.S.-based economy magazine Forbes revealed its “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” list for 2016 on Monday, which saw nine Chinese women included in the list for the first time, ranking China second after the U.S. represented by 51 women.
Despite public reaction and falling popularity stemming from her policies in the refugee crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has ruled Europe’s strongest economy since 2005, ranked first in the list, as it was the case in the past six years.
Merkel was followed by Hillary Clinton, the strongest candidate to run for the Democratic Party in 2016 U.S. presidential elections, in addition to titles of former secretary of state and first lady.
U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen, who controls the currency of the world’s strongest economy, was ranked third.
The only woman who was included in the list from Turkey is Güler Sabancı, the board chairman of the country’s second largest conglomerate Sabancı Holding. Sabancı was ranked 64th.
Women from 29 countries were included in this year’s list, who control a total net worth around $1 trillion.
The youngest women who is included in the list was Marissa Mayer, the 41-year-old-ceo of Yahoo, while the oldest is 90-year-old Queen Elizabeth.
Who are the top five?
1. Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel tops the list for the sixth year in a row – and the 11th time in total.
As a central figure in German politics ever since reunification, Ms Merkel has led Germany since 2005 and is a leading force in the European Union.
Choosing her for top spot, Forbes noted that “if there is a single leader able to defy existential economic and political challenges to the European Union, from edges and core, it has been Angela Merkel.”
2. Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton looks set to go head-to-head with Donald Trump for the position of President of the United States in November.
Mrs Clinton, who has had previous spells in the White House as first lady to husband Bill and as foreign secretary to current President Barack Obama, is bidding to become the first female President.
She has also served as a senator for New York state, and was a leading lawyer, serving as the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation and the first female partner at Rose Law Firm.
3. Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen is chair of the Federal Reserve, the central banking system of the United States.
Having previously chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisors under the Bill Clinton administration, Ms Yellen took over at the Fed in 2014, and managed the body through its first interest rate rise since June 2006.
Forbes said she is known for “steadiness, not inscrutability”, lauding her use of “plain sentences and easy logic” despite being “the world’s top market-mover”.
4. Melinda Gates
Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside her former Microsoft head husband, Mrs Gates organised $4.2bn in charitable work and global development in 2015 alone.
The foundation has given out $36.7bn in grant payments since it was founded in 2000, with Mrs Gates directing the organisation and in particular championing investments in women and girls around the globe.
Forbes said her work had “inspired other big donors and changed the way funders think about effective philanthropy”.
5. Mary Barra
Mary Barra was promoted from chief executive to president of General Motors in January, having guided the firm to record profits in 2015.
Ms Barra has been credited with turning around the fortunes of the American car-making giant, which had to recall 30 million vehicles in 2014 due to faulty ignition switches blamed for at least 124 deaths, by fostering strong domestic sales alongside growth in China.
Forbes said her latest promotion was “no surprise”, with Ms Barra leading the company on a “noticeable comeback” – and earning herself a compensation package of $28.6m last year.
BBC…….
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