As we mark International Women’s Day under the theme Accelerate Action, it’s the perfect time to celebrate female leadership across industries. While household names like Ursula von der Leyen top Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Women, many influential women remain under the radar despite shaping the lives of millions globally. Here, we highlight twelve remarkable yet lesser-known women who are making an indelible impact across finance, politics, technology, and beyond.

Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister, India

Nirmala Sitharaman has held the position of India’s Finance Minister since 2019, overseeing one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Following the 2024 general election, she was reappointed to continue her leadership. As the first woman to serve in this role full-time, she plays a crucial part in steering India’s financial future. Before venturing into politics, she worked with the UK-based Agricultural Engineers Association and BBC World Service. She also contributed to the National Commission for Women, advocating for female empowerment.

Ruth Porat
President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet

Ruth Porat is a financial powerhouse, currently serving as the President and Chief Investment Officer at Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Previously, she was the company’s Chief Financial Officer from 2015 until mid-2024. Before her tenure at Google, Porat spent nearly three decades at Morgan Stanley, eventually rising to the role of CFO in 2010. She is known for her strategic cost-cutting measures, particularly within Google’s high-risk ventures. Beyond her corporate career, Porat is a breast cancer survivor and has used her platform to advocate for health awareness and women in leadership.

Bela Bajaria
Chief Content Officer, Netflix

Bela Bajaria is the creative force behind Netflix’s global content empire. Appointed as Chief Content Officer in 2023, she oversees the streaming giant’s $17 billion content budget, responsible for hits such as Bridgerton, The Queen’s Gambit, Lupin, and The Roast of Tom Brady. Before joining Netflix in 2016, she was the President of Universal Television, becoming the first woman of colour to lead a major studio. Born in London, Bajaria spent her childhood in the UK and Zambia before relocating to Los Angeles, where she would later shape the future of entertainment.

Judy Faulkner
Founder & CEO, Epic Systems

Judy Faulkner is the mastermind behind Epic Systems, a medical software company she founded in a Wisconsin basement in 1979. Now generating $4.9 billion in annual revenue, Epic is a leader in electronic health records, managing data for over 250 million patients and partnering with elite medical centres like Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic. Despite its immense success, Epic has never raised venture capital or made acquisitions, instead developing all its software in-house. A philanthropist at heart, Faulkner signed the Giving Pledge in 2015, committing to donate 99% of her assets to charity.

Robyn Grew
CEO, Man Group

Robyn Grew took the helm of Man Group, a global hedge fund managing $161 billion in assets, in May 2023. As the firm’s first female CEO, she is one of the most influential figures in the finance sector. A 14-year veteran at Man Group, she previously held roles as President, Head of ESG, and General Counsel. Grew’s career began in investment banking in 1994 when she landed a role at Fidelity after responding to a newspaper job advert. Her journey later took her to Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital, and LIFFE, now known as ICE Futures Europe.

Kristalina Georgieva
Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)

A Bulgarian economist with a prestigious career, Kristalina Georgieva has led the International Monetary Fund since 2019, securing a second term in 2024. Under her guidance, the IMF provided nearly $1 trillion in financial aid to over 100 member nations. Before heading the IMF, she was the interim president of the World Bank Group, driving efforts to eliminate extreme poverty. Georgieva also serves on the UN’s High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing and the World Economic Forum’s Board of Trustees. With over 100 academic publications to her name, her influence spans both policy and scholarship.

Mia Mottley
Prime Minister, Barbados

Mia Mottley made history in 2018 when she became the first female Prime Minister of Barbados. A leading global voice on climate change, she delivered a powerful address to the UN General Assembly in 2021, urging urgent environmental action. That same year, the United Nations Environment Programme recognised her as a Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership. Under her governance, Barbados transitioned to a parliamentary republic in November 2021, formally severing ties with the British monarchy. Mottley’s political career began in 1994 when she was appointed Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, and Culture.

Ana Patricia Botín
Executive Chairman, Santander

Ana Patricia Botín has been at the helm of Santander since 2014, following the unexpected passing of her father, Emilio Botín. In 2017, she orchestrated the acquisition of struggling Banco Popular for a symbolic €1, transforming Santander into Spain’s largest bank. A champion of fintech innovation, she has supported female entrepreneurs and small businesses through initiatives such as Santander X. Her commitment to economic growth extends beyond banking—she founded Fundación Empresa y Crecimiento in 2001 to finance small and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America.

Raja Easa Al Gurg
Group MD & Chairperson, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group

Raja Easa Al Gurg is a towering figure in Middle Eastern business, leading the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a conglomerate spanning retail, construction, and manufacturing. She is also a dedicated advocate for female entrepreneurship as the founder and president of the Dubai Business Women Council. Her leadership extends to roles at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Women’s Association, and HSBC Middle East. Notably, she is the first Emirati woman appointed to HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd’s board.

Dominique Senequier
Founder & President, Ardian

Dominique Senequier is a trailblazer in the private equity world. She established AXA Private Equity in 1996, which later became Ardian in 2013. Today, the firm manages $176 billion in assets, serving governments, pension funds, and high-net-worth clients. She has redefined corporate ownership by making Ardian an employee-controlled entity, with nearly 70% of staff holding a 55% share in the company. One of the first women admitted to France’s prestigious École Polytechnique in 1972, Senequier’s career has been defined by breaking barriers.

Debra Crew
CEO, Diageo

Debra Crew took over as CEO of Diageo, the £80 billion British alcohol giant, in June 2023. She stepped into the role a month earlier than planned due to her predecessor’s medical emergency. Before assuming the top position, Crew led Diageo’s North American operations, overseeing major brands such as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, and Crown Royal. Her career includes executive roles at PepsiCo, Mars, and Nestlé. Additionally, Crew’s leadership is informed by her past as a U.S. military captain in the Army’s intelligence division.

Melanie Kreis
CFO, Deutsche Post DHL Group

Melanie Kreis became CFO of Deutsche Post in 2016, marking history as the first woman to hold the position. Initially the sole woman on the board, she has since been joined by another female executive. Kreis played a pivotal role in the sale of Deutsche Post’s stake in Postbank to Deutsche Bank. A former McKinsey consultant, she has been with Deutsche Post since 2004, shaping the financial landscape of one of the world’s largest logistics companies.

These extraordinary women may not always dominate headlines, but their contributions are shaping economies, industries, and societies worldwide. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, their stories serve as a powerful reminder that leadership and influence take many forms—often in places where the world isn’t looking.