These are the 25 most powerful women in the world

Who are the world’s most powerful women? This is a question several media outlets try to answer every year but there are few rankings as definitive as the one published by Forbes, and the magazine's 2023 listing was no different. 

But who are these amazing and powerful women that Forbes has collected and why are they on Forbes’ list in the first place? Some are governmental powerhouses while others were titans of the business and entertainment worlds in 2023. 

This year Forbes provided the world with a full list of where its Top 100 women were located as well as the field in which they excelled. Let’s take a look at the magazine’s list of the world’s top 25 since many of the choices will surprise you. 

Age: 60

Location: USA

Category: Philanthropy

Profession: Founder and Chair of Emerson Collective and XQ Institute

Age: 45 

Location: Brazil 

Category: Finance

Profession: President of Banco do Brazil

Age: 51

Location: USA 

Category: Technology

Profession: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft since 2013

Age: 43

Location: USA

Category: Business 

Profession: CEO of Centene Corporation

Photo Credit: LinkedIn @sarah-m-london

Age: 49 

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: CEO of Sam's Club

Photo Credit: LinkedIn @kathmclay

Age: 46 

Location: China

Category: Business

Profession: CEO and Executive Director of JD.com

Photo Credit: JD.com

Age: 66

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: CEO United Parcel Service (UPS)

Age: 63 

Location: Spain 

Category: Finance 

Profession: Executive Chairman of the Santander Group

Age: 62

Location: USA

Category: Technology

Profession: CEO of Oracle

Age: 66 

Location: USA

Category: Technology

Profession: CFO of Alphabet

Age: 54

Location: United Kingdom

Category: Business

Profession: CEO of GlaxoSmithKline

Age: 63

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: CEO of Anthem

Age: 53

Location: USA

Category: Philanthropy 

Profession: American novelist and Philanthropist

Age: 70

Location: USA

Category: Politics & Policy

Profession: Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

Age: 56

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: CEO of Accenture

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By World Economic Forum

Age: 59

Location: USA

Category: Philanthropy

Profession: Chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Age: 61

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: CEO of General Motors

Age: 61

Location: USA

Category: Finance

Profession: CEO of Fidelity Investments

Age: 56 

Location: USA

Category: Finance

Profession: CEO of Citigroup

Age: 59

Location: USA

Category: Business

Profession: President and CEO of CVS Health

Age: 33

Location: USA

Category: Media & Entertainment 

Profession: American Singer-songwriter and Entertainer 

Age: 46

Location: Italy

Category: Politics & Policy

Profession: Prime Minister of Italy

Age: 59

Location: USA

Category: Politics & Policy

Profession: Vice President of the United States 

Age: 67

Location: Germany 

Category: Politics & Policy

Profession: President of the European Central Bank

Age: 65

Location: Belgium

Category: Politics & Policy

Profession: President of the European Commission (EU)