Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris has made her debut on Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women, coming in at No. 3 following her recent election.
Harris is the first woman, first Black American and first Asian American to be elected vice president of the United States, with Forbes stating that her recent ascension in US politics has “catapulted” her onto the list.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named Forbes’ most powerful woman for the tenth consecutive year, while European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde is on the list at No.2.
Merkel is often referred to as the de facto leader of Europe, having led the region’s largest economy since 2005. While she’s announced she will not seek another term as Chancellor in 2021, she remains as popular as ever across Europe.
According to Forbes, an October 2020 survey found 75 per cent of adults across 14 European countries, trust Merkel – who is known for her steely reserve – more than any other European leader.
Elsewhere, many other female heads of state were named on the list, including New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, who came in at No. 32, Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen at No. 37, Finland’s Sanna Marin at No. 85 and Norway’s Erna Solberg at No. 52. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is recognised at No. 59 for her defense of Scotland’s interests amid Brexit negotiations. Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh’s longest serving Prime Minster comes in at No. 39.
Many of these political leaders have received global praise for their leadership and effective responses to COVID-19. Tsai Ing-wen has guided Taiwan through one of the most successful responses to the pandemic, having implemented an effective contract-tracing program in January. To date, the country has only recorded seven deaths. In New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern implemented swift and effective responses to two waves of COVID-19 and was re-elected with a resounding victory in October, a reflection of her wide approval.
Announcing the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2020: https://t.co/fSEkDPz9Nh #PowerWomen pic.twitter.com/8u6uB1LTYI
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 8, 2020
In business, two Australians made the list – CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake and mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
Another notable addition to this year’s list is Stacey Abrams, coming in at No. 100. The Fair Fight founder and voting rights advocate is the woman behind a sweeping grassroots movement in US state of Georgia, that helped register 800,000 people to vote at this year’s election. Her massive efforts helped the Democratic party win the state for the first time in 28 years and became an integral part of Joe Biden’s victory. Fair Fight raised $34 million in the last month of the 2020 election.