The Top 20 Influential Women in the World Today Part 1

1. Oprah Winfrey Rising from poverty to become the first African-American woman billionaire, Oprah Winfrey embodies the American dream. Through television, movies, books, and radio she speaks to women the world over. CNN and Time have called her “arguably the most influential woman in the world.” Through book recommendations, philanthropic activities, human rights awareness, and political activity, Oprah influences women around the world. Oprah’s rise to fame and fortune started in high school, when she  started working as a part-time news radio anchor. From there she moved on to local TV news, then to a morning talk show, which launched directly into The Oprah Winfrey Show. Though her show started out in the typical tabloid style, in the 90s it began to take on its own identity, including now famous book reviews, human interest stories, women’s health, gift giving, and psychological/spiritual themes. Her show has also been noted for many celebrity guests, whom she typically interviews in an intimate, friendly style. Oprah’s career has not been without controversy, however. She has received criticism for not asking tough questions of guests she seems to like personally, and for refusing to have VP-nominee Governor Sarah Palin on her show, when she has had Senator Barack Obama on the show. She responded by saying that she didn’t want to politicize her show, and that she would welcome the opportunity to interview Sarah Palin after the election. One of the most controversial criticisms of Oprah, however, has been in the area of spirituality. Through television, radio, and book reviews Oprah has embraced and promoted the teachings of New Thought spiritualism. Its teachings include the idea that you can achieve health, success, and happiness by visualizing what you want. This controversy has been amplified by statements she has made about the nature of truth and God, including one she made during a webinar: “God is a feeling experience and not a believing experience. If your religion is a believing experience…then that’s not truly God.” Regardless of her criticisms, however, it is undeniable that Oprah is one of the (if not the) most influential women in the world. 2. Hillary Clinton As First Lady of the United States, a US Senator, and a hugely popular candidate for President of the US, Hillary Clinton has been a trail blazer for women in politics. Having come closer to being nominated for President by a major party than any woman before her, Senator Clinton has encouraged women to join the political process and pursue their dreams. For better or worse, and whether you’re her biggest fan or her staunchest critic, Hillary Clinton is probably the most recognized woman in American politics (though perhaps lately eclipsed by Sarah Palin). As her husband’s second term as President drew to a close, Hillary succeeded in being elected US Senator from the state of New York, making her the first First Lady in US history to run for (and win) an elected office. During her second term as Senator, Hillary announced her candidacy for President. This made her not only a well-known woman politician, but the first woman in the US with a legitimate chance at winning the Oval Office. Though she failed to win the Democratic party’s nomination, she came closer than any woman had before her. It is evident from the support she received from women across the country that her candidacy was an inspiration to women everywhere. It has even been speculated (and refuted) that the Republican party nominated a woman for the VP slot in response to Hillary’s candidacy. Love her or hate her, there’s no doubt that Hillary Clinton has been influential both in the political arena and in encouraging women to pursue elected offices. Hillary Clinton will be Barack Obama's Secretary of State, which means she will managing with the affairs of the United States overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.  3. Sonia Gandhi Sonia Gandhi is the President of the Indian National Congress and leader of the United Progressive Alliance — the ruling party in the lower house of India’s Parliament. Her position in government is one of the highest offices in the world’s second most populous nation (the most populous democratic nation). Gandhi would have been the Prime Minister of India, except that in a surprise move she turned down the position when it was offered to her, choosing instead to retain her position in the nation’s legislature. She’s no stranger to the office, however; her husband, Rajiv, served as India’s Prime Minister from 1984-1989. He was assassinated in 1991, which was determined to have been carried out by the Tamil Tigers in retaliation for his sending peace-keeping troops into Sri Lanka. He himself had gained the position after the assassination of his mother by her own Sikh bodyguards. It seems understandable, then, that Sonia Gandhi would turn down the office, perhaps believing that she might have a better chance at helping her nation from the legislature. Although she is not India’s Prime Minister, Gandhi exerts an enormous amount of political power in the world’s most populous democracy. It was she who nominated the current Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Her son, Rahul, also won his bid for Parliament. All this, despite the fact that Sonia Gandhi is not originally from India. The daughter of ethnically Indian parents, she was born and raised in Italy and educated in the UK. She emigrated to India upon marrying Rajiv Gandhi, and yet her popularity among the Indian people has propelled her to the heights of power. Had she accepted the PM position, she would have been the Hindu nation’s first Roman Catholic leader. Sonia Gandhi’s popularity is evidence that nations can overcome prejudices of gender roles, religion, and ethnicity in leadership, when the person in that position pursues the good of that nation over their own political ambition.  4. Indra Nooyi As the CEO of PepsiCo, the world’s 4th largest food and beverage company, Indra Nooyi has won back-to-back listings as a “World’s Most Powerful Woman”. In addition to serving as PepsiCo’s CEO, Nooyi was instrumental in the establishment of Yum! Brands, which now operates Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s, and A&W Restaurants. Yum! Brands is currently listed as a Fortune 500 company and is the world’s largest fast food corporation. Indra Nooyi started working for PepsiCo in 1994, and became the company’s president and CFO in 2001. Five years later, she was named the company’s CEO, and has been credited with revitalizing the company. Since she started working as CFO, PepsiCo’s revenues have increased by over 70%. Impressively, under Nooyi’s leadership PepsiCo surpassed Coca-Cola in market value for the first time in history. If it can be said of anyone, it can be said of Indra Nooyi that she has mad business skills. But not only has she improved PepsiCo’s profits margins, she has also implemented business practices that encourage the production of healthier foods and has sought to make the production of the company’s goods more eco-friendly. She has also presided over PepsiCo’s introduction into more foreign markets, which has led to job production in those countries. Improving business, creating jobs, making healthier foods, and having less impact on the environment -– it’s all in a day’s work for one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world.  5. Christiane Amanpour Currently working as CNN’s Chief International Consultant, Christiane  Amanpour is most widely known for her up-close coverage of the Middle East, beginning with the Gulf War in 1990. She is widely recognized as one of the most influential international correspondents in the world, due partly to her willingness to report from dangerous situations, usually in war-torn areas. Amanpour began her journalistic career with CNN, covering events in Germany that signaled the end of the Cold War. She got her “big break” during the Gulf War as one of CNN’s most recognized correspondents. She later covered the conflict in Bosnia, and has since been famous for reporting from active war zones. Amanpour has also seen controversy, however. She has interviewed the late Yassar Arafat, as well as current President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, both of whom had less-than-friendly views toward the US and its allies. The latter interview caused some to fear for her life, since as a young child she and her family had fled from Iran, her native country. What Christiane Amanpour has contributed, however, and continues to contribute, is a bold and honest look into some of the most difficult situations in the world. She also stands as an example of the strength, courage, and character that a woman journalist can have in the most tense of situations.  6. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Argentina’s first elected female President, Fernandez de Kirchner presides over the government of the second-largest country in South America, and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. President Kirchner serves as an example to women everywhere that they have the ability to lead a nation through hard times and political turmoil, as well as through economic growth and sensitive diplomatic relations. Before being elected President of Argentina, Fernandez was a Senator, and then the nation’s first lady; her husband, Nestor, was elected President in 2003. As first lady, Fernandez was active in her husband’s administration, serving as an ambassador and making public speeches. Instead of running for reelection, President Kirchner supported his wife’s candidacy, and she was elected in 2007. Fernandez’ administration, though short, has not been without controversy. She has been criticized for having a close relationship with the dictator-run government of Venezuela, and has faced protests from Argentina’s farming community over tax policies. Her government has also been accused of failing to root out corruption and for appearing to discourage independent journalism. But President Fernandez is just getting started, and hopes persist that she will bring invigorating changes to Argentina’s economy and political climate. She certainly has the potential, and the power.