Groundbreakers 2021: 50 Women Changing the World

Last year wasn’t easy. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the civil unrest that swept the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, 2020 was a year of reckoning that pushed many deep-seated issues into the spotlight—racial justice, gender parity, health care access, connectivity, to name just a few. However, despite enduring a pandemic that has disproportionately affected women and minorities, many women leaders used last year to make real strides creating impact and accelerating progress toward building a more equitable society for the benefit of all.
In fact, female leaders overall have thrived during this tumultuous time, with statistics showing that women-led countries have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic more successfully than comparable male counterparts. The historic election of Kamala Harris as America’s first Black and first woman vice president shattered barriers that have historically kept men entrenched at the highest levels of U.S. politics. Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman unveiled a plan to increase representation of women and underserved minorities on the boards of Nasdaq-listed companies. Jane Fraser was named the new CEO of Citigroup, making her the first woman to run a major U.S. bank. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Below, you’ll find more than 50 of the most influential women leaders of our time. Each woman leader was chosen for this list because they did not sit back in 2020—they took action. Their work has been important to accelerating progress and propelling us closer to an equal and just world. They’ve broken down barriers and are changing their industries—and, because of their determination, they’re making a difference for society as a whole.
Read all about these groundbreaking women below, and don’t miss your chance to meet some of them at our Women & Worth Summit: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, taking place March 2-4. Register here!
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Stacey Abrams Founder, Fair Fight Action
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Jasmin Allen Senior Vice President, Hennessy, U.S., LVMH
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Naj Austin Founder, Ethel’s Club
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Mary Barra Chairman and CEO, General Motors Company
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Candice Matthews Brackeen Founder and General Partner, Lightship Capital
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Dana Canedy Senior Vice President and Publisher, Simon & Schuster
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Fernanda Carapinha Founder and CEO, WE Global Studios
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Julia Cheek Founder and CEO, Everlywell
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The Chemists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna
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Lisette Cooper Vice Chair, Fiduciary Trust International; and Founder, Athena Capital Advisors
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DéLana R.A. Dameron Founder and Chief Strategist, Red Olive Creative Consulting
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Beatrice Dixon Founder and CEO, The Honey Pot Co.
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T. Morgan Dixon Cofounder and CEO, GirlTrek
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Ariel Dumas Head Writer, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”
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Billie Eilish Singer-Songwriter
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Cathy Engelbert Commissioner, Women's National Basketball Association
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Harris Faulkner Anchor, Fox News
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Jane Fraser CEO, Citigroup
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Adena Friedman CEO, Nasdaq
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Women on the Frontlines
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Lauren Gardner Codirector, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering
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Jordan Gaspar Managing Partner, AF Ventures
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Melinda Gates Cochair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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Sarah Gilbert Professor of Vaccinology, University of Oxford; and Cofounder, Vaccitech
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Supreme Court Justice
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Nadine Hachach-Haram Founder and CEO, Proximie
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Kathrin Hamm Founder and CEO, Bearaby
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Mellody Hobson President and Co-CEO, Ariel Investments; and Chairwoman, Starbucks
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Ella Jones Mayor, Ferguson, Missouri
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Sabine Keller-Busse President, UBS Switzerland
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Sallie Krawcheck CEO and Cofounder, Ellevest
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Sarah Kunst Managing Director, Cleo Capital
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Lucy Lang Manhattan District Attorney Candidate
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Sanna Marin Prime Minister, Finland
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Sarah McBride State Senator, Delaware
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Vivienne Ming Cofounder and CEO, Socos Labs
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Nadia Murad Human Rights Activist
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Desiree Perez CEO, Roc Nation
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The Political Players Ashley Etienne and Kamala Harris
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Angelica Ross Founder and CEO, TransTech Social Enterprises
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Kate Ryder Founder and CEO, Maven Clinic
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Deb Schwartz Former CFO, Bustle Digital Group
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Nicole Shanahan Founding Donor and Primary Instigator, Center for Female Reproductive Longevity and Equality
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Sima Sistani Cofounder and CEO, Houseparty
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Chrissy Teigen (And All Mothers Who’ve Lost Pregnancies)
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Greta Thunberg Environmental Activist
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Opal Tometi Human Rights Activist and Cofounder, Black Lives Matter
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Dalila Wilson-Scott Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation and President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation
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Jen Wong COO, Reddit