Overview
- Fortune published its 29th Most Powerful Women in Business list on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and placed Jane Fraser, chair and CEO of Citigroup, at No. 1 for her five‑year turnaround of the bank and the substantial rise in Citi’s stock since her appointment.
- The 100 honorees collectively oversee 11.8 million employees and $7.3 trillion in annual revenue, and they hold 180 board seats across 20 countries and territories.
- Tech and finance are the largest sectors on the list with 27 and 26 women respectively, and the ranking added 16 newcomers from banking, retail, China leadership and other fields, including leaders at U.S. Bancorp, Ulta Beauty, Sam’s Club, Nestlé, Binance and Walmart China.
- Fortune flagged the growing role of women in AI and finance by noting multiple senior finance chiefs who shape company spending on AI and technology, and it highlighted women breaking into traditionally male sectors such as Big Oil with BP’s Meg O’Neill appearing on the list.
- The list is compiled by Fortune editors using 12‑month and three‑year financial data plus qualitative judgments about influence, innovation and efforts to improve business, and Fortune will convene many of the honorees at its Most Powerful Women Summit in October 2026.