Most Powerful Women

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Most Powerful Women list. It also happens to be the most competitive in this ranking’s history. Rather than compile separate international and domestic versions as we’ve done in some form since 2000, we combined our candidates to come up with one definitive list—a more accurate reflection of the global nature of business today. That meant fewer spots, even as the world hit a record-high number of female Global 500 CEOs. The result: All the women on this list either are CEOs or very likely will be—either at their current company or a competitor. Several of the highest-ranked CEOs are in the middle of transforming, remaking, or turning around their companies, which just goes to show, there is no standing still—even for those who have reached the top.