Women are powering through the workforce and taking the reins of global leadership like never before. While Hilary Clinton came close to becoming the first female president of the United States and German Chancellor Angela Merkel continues to lead the European Union five courageous women are quietly (and not so quietly) making history of their own.
This year has been a breakout year for many women leaders affecting change in foreign policy government economics health and corporate wellness. As women leaders continue to rise all over the globe you may not have heard of these five powerful women leaders who are running the world while positively impacting the corporate environment:
Christine Lagarde Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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If helping the IMF recover from a debilitating world financial crisis post Strauss-Kahn preventing the next Brexit and Grexit and standing up for the current refugee crisis isn enough Lagarde continues to lead the fight for gender and income equality in the workplace as the 6th most powerful woman in the world.
Elvira Nabiullina Chairwoman of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR).
When oil prices were falling from a stagnant world economy in the 2008-09 financial crisis the Russian economy tanked with it. While the ruble was devalued and consumer and business purchasing power decreased these changes fueled Russias most recent economic resurgence. Under Nabuillinas leadership Russia is still breathing after a devastating financial crisis and corporations are holding strong.
Fatou Bensouda Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is an intergovernmental and international tribunal to prosecute individuals for war crimes. Under Bensoudas leadership 39 individuals including Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo have been indicted. She continues to be an advocate for child soldiers and women of rape.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala former Finance Minister of Nigeria.While serving as Nigerias first female finance minister Okonjo-Iweala helped the struggling economy grow six percent in three years while in office. Okonjo-Iweala has since become chairwoman of the non-profit organization GAVI The Vaccine Alliance a global initiative that creates access to vaccines and immunizations for children in the worlds most impoverished countries.
Federica Mogherini High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The Foreign Minister of the EU Mogherini leads the foreign affairs of over 500 million citizens in the European Union. She has tackled some of the most heartbreaking crises in the European Union to date. As the 19th most powerful woman according to Forbes Mogherini has shown empathy for the families of immigrants and is working on solutions however complex to curb the current refugee crisis from Mediterraneans fleeing Syria and Libya for Europe.
While these global women leaders are fighting some of the worlds most gut-wrenching issues they are changing the landscape for women everywhere by knocking down barriers creating opportunity in the midst of devastation and empowering others to make impactful changes in government globalization and access to medical treatments and corporate wellness.
