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Most Powerful Women in America
Having more powerful women in leadership positions can provide a better role model for young women and girls. This can help to inspire young women…
Women, around the world are making an impact. Driving positive change. According to a study conducted by The Body Shop, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States of America has been recognized as one of the most influential women globally.
This list highlights the 8 American women based on their accomplishments in various fields such as business, politics, media and philanthropy. It also takes into account their standing, earnings, positions and overall influence in society.
The inclusion of these women in the compilation serves as a representation of the progress women have made in the workforce. However, it also serves as a reminder that there are still challenges to overcome in achieving gender equality within our society.
These women hold leadership roles in areas such as business, politics and the arts. They are entrepreneurs, activists, investors and importantly they are sisters, mothers and daughters. Each one of them is making a difference, in the world deserving our respect and admiration.
Most Powerful Women in America
1. Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
Date of Birth: Oct 20, 1964 (58 years old)
Place of Birth: Oakland, California, U.S.
Profession: Politician
Net Worth: $6 Million
American politician and attorney Kamala Harris now serves as Vice President alongside President Joe Biden. With a net worth of an estimated $6 million, She is currently the most powerful woman in the United States. In November 2020, Kamala Harris was chosen as Joe Biden’s running mate for the presidency of the United States.
Joe and Kamala defeated Donald Trump and Mike Pence in November 2020. Both in terms of the electoral college vote total and the popular vote total, the triumph was a resounding success. Kamala became the first woman and person of colour to hold the office of vice president when she was sworn in.
2. Oprah Winfrey, media mogul
Date of Birth: Jan 29, 1954 (69 years old)
Place of Birth: Kosciusko
Profession: Media proprietor, Actor, Presenter, Businessperson, Television producer, Film Producer, Journalist, Philanthropist, Voice Actor
Net Worth: $3.5 Billion
In both America and the rest of the world, Oprah Winfrey has emerged as a strong and well-respected female leader. Winfrey is most known for her award-winning talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which grossed $125 million after its first season. Winfrey received $30 million of that total. Viewers were drawn to her pleasant interviewing approach as well as her two most well-known programs, “Oprah’s Book Club” and “Oprah’s Favorite Things.”
As the first black woman to become a billionaire, Oprah becomes a generous philanthropist. Around the world, Winfrey has been a vocal supporter of girls’ education, and Oprah’s Angel Network has helped generate more than $50 million for humanitarian causes.
Briefly put, Oprah started off by producing her show and later sold it to distributors. This is the reason Oprah earned $200–300 million a year when her program was being broadcast, a significant increase over the $50 million annually that her fellow A-list daytime anchors were earning at the time.
3. Abigail Johnson, President and CEO of Fidelity Investments
Date of Birth: Dec 19, 1961 (61 years old)
Place of Birth: Boston
Profession: Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Net Worth: $28 Billion
Abigail Johnson, whose grandfather Edward Johnson II founded Fidelity Investments, is ranked ninth on Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women. She is also one of the richest women in the world, with a net worth of $28 billion.
She has in possesses an estimated 24.5% of the company’s managed assets, which total close to $2.9 trillion. She holds a Harvard MBA and is the sole female director of the Financial Services Forum. Johnson has embraced cryptocurrencies, and Fidelity introduced a platform in 2018 that enables large investors to trade bitcoins and Ethereum. Additionally, she has held a position on the Committee on Capital Markets Capitalization.
4. Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth: 13 July 1967 (age 56 years)
Profession: Economist, Businessperson
Net Worth: $25 million
The world’s largest international bank experienced a strategy refresh under the leadership of Jane Fraser, the first female CEO in Citi’s history. Despite an absurdly unstable geopolitical environment, she led Citi to strong first-quarter 2022 profitability, returning $4 billion to shareholders while overseeing 200,000 people globally and providing services to millions of customers and businesses in 95 different nations.
Fraser is actively on boards outside of Citi that direct economic policy. In addition, she is serving as vice chair of Partnership for New York City, she is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Stanford Global Advisory Board, and the Board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School.
5. Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
Date of Birth: Jul 5, 1968 (55 years old)
Place of Birth: Santa Clara County
Profession: Businessperson
Net Worth: $500 Million
Wojcicki has established herself as one of the most influential women in online technology as the CEO of YouTube and one of Google’s original employees.
Wojcicki is well educated, as seen by her academic record. She received an undergraduate degree in history and literature from Harvard University in 1990, a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1993, and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1998.
AdWords, the clickable text-only commercial that appears on Google search results pages, was her first significant success, introduced in 2000. As a result, Google became the industry leader in online display advertising with the development of AdSense.
According to a list published by Forbes, Wojcicki is one of the most powerful women in the world. She shows females and young girls throughout the globe that there is room for them in the field of technology both now and in the future.
6. Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle
Date of Birth: Dec 1, 1961 (61 years old)
Place of Birth: Holon
Profession: Businessperson
Net Worth: $1 Billion
Safra Catz is a very strong woman. Her position as Co-President and Chief Financial Officer of the $40 billion global computer technology corporation Oracle Corporation also demonstrates her influence. She is recognized for starting Oracle and expanding it beyond all expectations.
She was recognized as the highest-paid woman in the world by Fortune in 2011 after earning $51,695,742 in compensation, and Forbes included her among the most powerful women in the world of business!
7. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
Date of Birth: Dec 24, 1961 (61 years old)
Place of Birth: Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
Profession: Chair and CEO, General Motors
Net Worth: $60 Million
Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, has been named among the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. She is the first woman to hold both of these positions and the title of CEO in the automotive industry. Barra has spent billions on electric automobiles, autonomous vehicles, and a ride-hailing business named Maven. In the spring of 2020, she rearranged GM’s manufacturing lines to support Ventec Life Systems in producing ventilators, which were in urgent demand.
Barra earned $21.6 million in 2019, the most of any executive at one of the Detroit Big Three automakers. GM has routinely received good marks for its gender equity reports, and in 2018 it was one of just two worldwide corporations with no gender pay difference.
8. Melinda French Gates, philanthropist
Date of Birth: Aug 15, 1964 (58 years old)
Place of Birth: Dallas
Profession: Businessperson
Net Worth: $12 Billion
Melinda Gates has long been seen as a powerhouse, and she is still a major player in both business and philanthropy. She began her career at Microsoft in 1987 as a product manager where she worked on Expedia. Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft and a multibillionaire, was her husband.
In her role as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private charity organization in the world with a $40 billion trust fund, Gates continues to hold the title of most influential woman in philanthropy. This foundation aims to advance education while addressing worldwide problems with poverty and health.
Gates contributed $560 million in 2012 to initiatives aimed at improving the availability of contraception for women in underdeveloped nations. Bill and Melinda Gates received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015 in recognition of their charitable activities.
FAQ
What are the criteria for being considered one of the most powerful women in America?
The criteria for being considered one of the most powerful women in America vary from source to source, but they typically include factors such as:
- Title and position: The woman must hold a high-level position in business, government, or the arts.
- Influence: The woman must have a significant impact on her field or industry.
- Recognition: The woman must be recognized as a leader by her peers and the media.
- Personal wealth: The woman’s net worth may be a factor in her power, as it can give her access to resources and influence.
- Media presence: The woman’s visibility in the media may also be a factor, as it can help her to shape public opinion.
- Philanthropic work: The woman’s charitable giving may also be considered, as it can demonstrate her commitment to making a difference in the world.
What are some of the challenges that women face in achieving power in America?
Women face several challenges in achieving power in America, including:
- Gender discrimination: Women are often discriminated against in the workplace, and they are less likely to be promoted to leadership positions.
- Lack of role models: There are fewer female role models in positions of power, which can make it difficult for women to see themselves as leaders.
- Work-life balance: Women are often expected to take on more of the household and childcare responsibilities, which can make it difficult for them to advance their careers.
- Unconscious bias: Unconscious bias can lead to women being overlooked for opportunities or being judged more harshly than men.
- Sexual harassment: Women in positions of power are often subjected to sexual harassment, which can make it difficult for them to do their jobs effectively.
Why are there so many women from the tech industry on this list?
There are a few reasons why there are so many women from the tech industry on the list of most powerful women in America.
- The tech industry is one of the most powerful industries in America: The tech industry is responsible for creating some of the most innovative and disruptive products and services in the world. As a result, the women who work in the tech industry have a significant impact on the global economy.
- The tech industry is also one of the most male-dominated industries: According to a 2021 report by the Anita Borg Institute, women make up only 26% of the workforce in the tech industry. As a result, women who achieve success in the tech industry are often seen as being particularly powerful.
- The tech industry is a meritocracy: In the tech industry, success is often based on merit, rather than on gender. This means that women who are talented and hard-working have the opportunity to achieve success on an equal footing with men.
What are the benefits of having more powerful women in America?
There are many benefits to having more powerful women in America. Here are a few:
- A more diverse leadership pool: A more diverse leadership pool can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving. This is because different people have different perspectives and experiences, which can help to identify and address problems from a variety of angles.
- A more inclusive workplace: A more inclusive workplace can lead to a more productive and satisfied workforce. This is because employees who feel valued and respected are more likely to be engaged in their work and to be willing to go the extra mile.
- Better role models for young women: Having more powerful women in leadership positions can provide a better role model for young women and girls. This can help to inspire young women to pursue their dreams and to believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
- Unbiased society: When women have more power, they can advocate for policies and initiatives that benefit women and girls. This can help to create a more equitable society for all.
Who are the Most Powerful Women in America?
Here is the list of the most powerful women in the world:
- Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
- Oprah Winfrey, media mogul
- Abigail Johnson, President and CEO of Fidelity Investments
- Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup
- Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
- Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle
- Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
- Melinda French Gates, philanthropist
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