Every year, Forbes publishes a list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. In 2013, the list included 11 black women. Included on the list will be some recognizable names, but there will also be women you may never have heard of but will certainly remember.
- Michelle Obama – it’s no surprise that Michelle Obama made the list. She is more popular than her husband, active in important causes such as healthy eating and childhood obesity, ans she is a Harvard graduate and former corporate attorney.
- Oprah Winfrey – also no surprise, Oprah is a strong business woman and the richest African-American. She is also one of the most giving women, donating more than $400 million to charitable works during her career.
- Ursula Burns – is the CEO of Xerox USA. She started at the bottom as an intern during the summer, got her Masters’ Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and joined the company, becoming Vice-President in 2000 and CEO in 2009.
- Beyonce – is not only a musician but also has good business acumen. She owns her own line of clothing, has a $50 million contract with Pepsi and continues to be one of the best-selling musicians of all time with 17 Grammy awards to her credit.
- Rosalind Brewer – is President and CEO of Sam’s Club. She was once an executive at Kimberly-Clark and joined Wal-Mart in 2006 where she was president of the company’s Eastern U.S. business division. She was named CEO of Sam’s Club in 2012.
- Joyce Banda – is the first female president of Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest nations.
- Ertharin Cousin – is the Executive Director of World Food Programme, United Nations, U.S.A, the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
- Helene Gayle – is President & CEO of CARE, USA, a leading humanitarian organization that works to combat poverty in 87 countries.
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – is the Minister of Finance in Nigeria. She was a former managing director at the World Bank and an experienced economist.
- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey – is President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest healthcare foundation in the U.S. She has been in this position since 2003.
- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf – is the President of Liberia, currently serving her second term. She is not only Africa’s first female head of state but also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
To view the full list, visit www.forbes.com/power-women/
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