Meghan Markle, Annie Ernaux, Sanna Marin… The most influential women of 2022 according to the Financial Times

"Influence can take many forms," ​​says Roula Khalaf, editor-in-chief of the

, and the first woman in this position, in the introduction to the list of the most influential women of 2022. As every year, the British daily celebrates 25 personalities, business leaders, politicians, activists or artists, for their impact.

“We compiled this list in collaboration with

journalists from dozens of overseas offices, former Women of the Year, and readers like you,” continues Roula Khalaf.

It is for us a celebration, of course, but also a way of questioning the way in which power and influence evolve.

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Several female CEOs celebrated

They are exercised in particular at the head of companies: several leaders are among the rankings.

Thus Francesca Bellettini, CEO of Saint-Laurent since 2013, described as the “steady hand of fashion” by the

, for the brand's impressive results - 1,481 million euros in the first half of 2022. Also appears Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, one of the largest banks in the world.

“Since winning the post in 2021, Fraser has continued to wear pink suits and floral dresses, and espouse the style of leadership that has long distinguished her among a host of fellow women striving to imitate their male rivals in one of the oldest

"

underlines the newspaper.

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Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health, the first American medical company, is cited as "the person who is redefining the health care system in America".

In her position since 2021, Karen Lynch has notably piloted the administration of more than 80,000 doses of vaccine against Covid, improved access to care and focused on the management of mental health.

MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos who became a philanthropist, who gives her billions without counting, is also in the list.

In video, Marta Ortega, the flamboyant heiress who leads the Zara empire

political power

Several political leaders are also celebrated, from one end of the globe to the other;

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, “leader without fear”, for her firmness towards Russia since the beginning of the war;

the Colombian vice-president Francia Elena Márquez Mina, “champion of the people”;

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, architect of the island's transformation into a Republic and spokesperson for countries threatened by global warming;

or even Sherry Rehman, Climate Minister of Pakistan, a tenacious negotiator during the COP27, which took place last November, when her country was suffering from terrible floods.

The 25 most influential women of 2022

Oleksandra Matviichuk, lawyer, activist and director of the NGO Center for Civil Liberties, winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace PrizeKetanji Brown Jackson, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United StatesFrancesca Bellettini, CEO of Saint-LaurentJane Fraser, CEO of CitigroupKaren Lynch , CEO of CVS HealthSanna Marin, Prime Minister of FinlandFrancia Elena Marquez Mina, Vice President of ColombiaMia Motley, Prime Minister of BarbadosSherry Rehmann, Climate Minister of PakistanSerena Williams, Tennis playerAmanda Blanc, CEO of AvivaJamie Fiore Higgins, former Goldman Sachs banker and authorRebecca Gomperts, physician and abortion rights activistRina Gonoi, former Japanese military and whistleblowerIranian women, human rights activistsPaula Kahumbu, environmental activistMacKenzie Scott,philanthropistSarina Wiegman, England women's football coachMichelle Yeoh, actressTsitsi Dangarembga, novelist and human rights activistBillie Eilish, musician and singerAnnie Erneaux, writer, 2022 Nobel Prize in LiteratureAnne Imhof, artistMeghan Markle, actress, podcasterDomee Shi , director

Future creators

There is no shortage of artists, including Annie Ernaux, the only Frenchwoman on the list, for her Nobel Prize in Literature, received in 2022. Meghan Markle, creator of the Archetypes podcast

is celebrated as “a symbol of resilience for many women reduced to silence and especially women of color.

Athletes - Serena Williams, artists - Anne Imhof, Domee Shi - and actresses, like Michelle Yeoh, very noticed for her role in

Human rights in scope

This is one of the highlights of this list: the place given to those who defend human rights - and especially women, in the face of climate crises, war crimes or even male violence.

Thus the Ukrainian lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, director of the Center for Civil Liberties, an NGO which has identified and documented 27,000 war crimes since the Russian invasion, and received the Nobel Peace Prize last October, or the Women of Iran, collectively celebrated for having initiated an unprecedented movement of revolt, and harshly repressed, after the death of Mahsa Amini, killed by the authorities for an ill-fitting veil.

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Whistleblower Rina Gonoi, a former Japanese soldier who spoke out against sexual harassment in the military, appears;

Jamie Fiore Higgins, once a high-ranking banker at Goldman Sachs, whose “racist, sexist and intolerant” culture she denounced in a book,

.

The

also celebrates doctor Rebecca Gomperts, founder of Aid Access, who sends abortion pills through the mail and fights hard to ensure access to abortion since it is no longer a right. guaranteed in the USA.

"Rebecca Gomperts knows something that we have all taken too long to understand (...): we save our lives by fighting with absolutely everything we have", summarizes the

.

A visceral commitment, which transpires in all this prize list.

As if, after a year of crises and violence, 2022 should also be the year of struggle.