The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was considered the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, in the 19th edition of the well-known ranking published annually by the American magazine.
The German tops the list of 100 names “for her leadership during the war in Ukraine, as well as for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic”, says the publication.
“His influence is unique – no one else on the list conducts policy on behalf of 450 million people – but his commitment to a free and democratic society is not,” reads the text announcing the nominees. “Von der Leyen is an example of the biggest storyline of 2022: women acting as defenders of democracy.”
The top four metrics for choosing names are money, media, impact, and spheres of influence. In the case of political leaders, the gross domestic products and populations of their countries are also criteria; in the case of corporate leadership, revenue and headcount, media mentions and reach.
The 2022 ranking also included women such as Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (in second place), Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (in third), and Giorgia Meloni, newly elected Prime Minister of Italy (in seventh position). From the world of entertainment, presenter Oprah Winfrey and singers Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles were some of the selected ones. The list brings 39 CEOs of companies, 10 heads of state and 11 billionaires.
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