Taylor Swift, Nina Metayer, Dina Radenković… Whether they shine for their artistic talent, their political career or their foothold in the business world, here are 10 of the most powerful and inspiring women on the globe.
A few days ago, Frenchwoman Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heiress to beauty giant L’Oréal, took advantage of the family group’s strong stock market performance to boost her wealth. The vice-chairwoman of L’Oréal’s board of directors ended 2023 with a fortune in excess of 100 billion dollars. Already the richest woman on earth, she became the first in the world to surpass this sum. While Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ financial power makes her one of the most powerful women in the world, there are other women who stand out for their artistry and influence in a variety of fields.
The Taylor Swift boom
Taylor Swift will become a billionaire in October 2023, making her one of the most powerful women in the world, according to the annual Forbes rankings. The singer of Love Story, Bad Blood and Shake it Off is currently on a world tour called Eras, the most profitable in the history of music, with revenues of over a billion dollars in just a few months. A model of emancipation, a committed and feminist artist, a singer and songwriter with multiple awards to her name… The American pop star who democratised country music for a young audience continues to spread her benevolent aura and continues to have an impact on music and the economy in general.
The pastry-making talent of Nina Métayer
Set course for France, home of the culinary arts. Nina Métayer has been voted best pastry chef in 2023, a title awarded by the International Union of Bakers and Pastry Chefs. While the French chef had already won several awards, she is the first woman to have achieved this distinction. After honing her skills at Le Meurice and the Hôtel Raphaël, she was recruited by Jean-François Piège to work in his Grand Restaurant. Nina Métayer then took charge of the Café Pouchkine patisserie before opening her own shops. A role model in the world of pastry-making, she has helped to publicise and democratise a profession in which women are all too often invisible.
Greta Gerwig’s cinematic heyday
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After Lady Bird and The Daughters of Dr March, American actress and director Greta Gerwig has scored one of the biggest hits in cinema history with Barbie. Played by Margot Robbie, the doll, no longer as perfect as she once was, sets off in search of happiness and the meaning of life in the human world. With its offbeat tone and feminist philosophy, the film has proved a hit with audiences and propelled Greta Gerwig to the top of the cinematic ladder. Barbie recently won the Golden Globes for Best Commercial Success and Best Soundtrack. Greta Gerwig will be present at the Cannes Festival 2024 as president of the jury.
Dina Radenković, a woman in the service of women’s health
After growing up in Serbia, she studied mathematics and engineering in England, before graduating in medicine. In 2021, Dina Radenković co-founded Gameto with Martin Varsavsky. This women-led start-up develops treatment solutions to improve women’s reproductive health throughout their lives. The company has raised $40 million to continue its research and develop the best treatments for women. A quest that has earned Dina Radenković a place on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Health Care category.
The unstoppable Kim Kardashian
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Despite her controversial image, American Kim Kardashian is one of the most important female figures in the world. Voted “Man of the Year 2023” by GQ magazine, the influencer and entrepreneur (founder of underwear and loungewear brand Skims and skincare label SKKN by Kim) has risen through the ranks, gradually transforming herself from a superficial jet-set figure into a feminist icon. In fact, Kim Kardashian is the focus of an Arte.tv report entitled “Kim Kardashian Theory”, which looks at her global influence as discussed in universities.
Christine Lagarde, the woman of Europe
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Lawyer, Chair of Baker & McKenzie’s Global Strategy Committee in 2004, Minister for Foreign Trade the following year, first female Finance and Economy Minister of a G-7 country in 2007, Chair of the G-20 in 2011, Managing Director of the IMF in 2011… Christine Lagarde’s CV is well-filled. Now that she has been President of the European Central Bank since 2019, it’s hard to question the diplomatic and economic impact of this French woman of power.
Isabelle Kocher, the Cac 40 businesswoman
A mining engineer, Isabelle Kocher’s career began in 1991, when she was given responsibility for reorganising the production workshops at Société Européenne de Propulsion. At the end of the 90s, she joined the French Ministry of the Economy, then the office of the then Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin. In 2002, Isabelle Kocher joined the Suez group and was appointed deputy CEO of GDF Suez nine years later. In 2016, the French businesswoman was crowned CEO of Engie until she stepped down in 2020. She thus became the third woman to be CEO of a CAC 40 group. A career that has earned Isabelle Kocher a place on Forbes’ list of the most powerful women in France in 2019.
Karen S. Lynch, most powerful woman in the business world
Voted the most powerful woman in the business world for the third year running in the Fortune Global 500, the influence of American Karen S. Lynch’s influence is no longer in question. CEO of the CVS Health pharmacy group, she was the first female president of Aetna and has held senior positions at Magellan Health Services and Cigna. An expert in finance, Karen S. Lynch is also one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
Stella McCartney, pioneer of sustainable fashion
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Founder and artistic director of her own brand, British designer Stella McCartney has made eco-responsible fashion her DNA. Her House, which increased its revenues by 23% in 2022, continues to revolutionise sustainability in the luxury industry through a number of innovative initiatives. Stella McCartney, who has proposed inspiring biomaterial projects in recent years, recently presented a vegan material derived from wine-making waste, co-created with Veuve Clicquot. Thanks to these initiatives, the designer was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her stylistic work and sustainable commitments last year.
Mosunmola Abudu, Africa’s media powerhouse
After a career in human resources at the oil company ExxonMobil, Nigerian-born Mosunmola Abudu set out to conquer the audiovisual world. Her programme Moments with Mo, which she hosts and produces, is inspired by the talk shows of American media queen Oprah Winfrey. Broadcast throughout Africa, the programme covers a wide range of topics, from culture to health and social issues. In 2013, she began work on the creation of a pan-African channel, while also serving as director of the EbonyLife media group. Mosunmola Abudu is also known for producing blockbuster films. Thanks to her spectacular career, the businesswoman has been included in the Forbes 2023 ranking of the world’s most powerful women.
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Featured photo: © Mosunmola Abudu
