ISLAMABAD – Forbes linkunveiled its annual list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, whichthis year is topped by German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Theresa May, Melinda Gates and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki are some of theother names included in the business magazine’s esteemed list, whichcelebrates the world’s most high-achieving women who are leading the way interms of change and disruption in their respective industries.
*Angela Merkel:* Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in2005 and is serving her fourth term.In November Merkel stepped down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union(CDU) and announced she wouldn t seek another term as chancellor in 2021.
Her leadership is marked by her steely reserve, from standing up to DonaldTrump to allowing more than a million Syrian refugees into Germany.
*Theresa May:* May became Prime Minister in July 2016 following DavidCameron s resignation after the UK s referendum decision to leave the EU.
May has spent the past two years negotiating the exit, facing pushback fromboth pro and anti-European factions in her own party and the opposition.
European leaders approved her plan in November 2018, opening the door forthe first major member state in the bloc s 45-year history.
*Christine Lagarde:* Lagarde has led the IMF since 2011, providingfinancial oversight and guidance for its 189 member countries, includingChina, Russia and the U.K.
Under her tenure, the IMF has navigated the eurozone debt crisis, managedemerging market risks and the threat of a U.S. trade war with China.
*Melinda Gates:* Gates maintains her position as most powerful woman inphilanthropy as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Founded in 2000, it s the world s largest private charitable foundationwith a $40 billion trust endowment.
*Sheikh Hasina Wajed:* In 2017, Wajed provided aid to Rohingya Muslimrefugees fleeing Myanmar, allotting 2,000 acres of land in Bangladesh forthe refugees.
Now she is working on the safe repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar, sayingthat Bangladesh can t bear the burden of permanent shelter.
But there are a number of notable names missing from this year’s roundup,including Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
*Hillary Clinton:* Hillary Rodham Clinton has served as secretary of state,senator from New York, first lady of the United States, first lady ofArkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, activist, andvolunteer—but the first thing her friends and family will tell you is thatshe’s never forgotten where she came from or who she’s been fighting for.
Hillary, who ran for US presidency in 2016, was ranked number 65 in thepublication’s 2017 list.
*Michelle Obama:* Michelle Obama is an American lawyer, universityadministrator, and writer who served as the First Lady of the United Statesfrom 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th U.S. President, Barack Obama,and was the first African-American First Lady.
