In 2018, only 5% of women held a spot in Fortune 500 boardrooms. Clearly, they’re still trapped under the glass ceiling. Then there’s the problem of the gender pay gap—women still earn roughly 20% less than their male counterparts at work. And don’t forget about the never-ending tales of sexual harassment, with Trump constantly popping up in the headlines.
All that being said, there has been an impressive rise of women making it in influential positions, both in the public and private sectors. So maybe it’s fair to say that although the glass ceiling isn’t broken, it’s starting to show some cracks. Let’s hear it for these seven women who are paving the way.
ANGELA MERKEL
Germany’s own “Margaret Thatcher” has won four consecutive elections to lead the fourth largest global economy—and even has an advanced physics degree under her belt. Angela Merkel has dealt with several major challenges in her time as chancellor, from keeping Europe united in the wake of Brexit and helping to diffuse the situation to managing an influx of migrants and handling the 2016 terrorist attack on Berlin.
Having made history as Germany’s first female chancellor, Angela Merkel continues to shape a legacy of empowered women in politics.
MELINDA GATES
Established in 2000 to address global development issues, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has included gender equality on its list of causes, a movement spearheaded by Melinda. She’s made it her life’s mission to help women and girls around the world.
Melinda Gates left a successful business career in 1996 to focus on her family, and then came back as a philanthropist dead set on tipping the scales of opportunity. In 2019, she created a new website to help “evoke [the] sense of possibility” that she felt throughout her career in women across the globe.
SUSAN WOJCICKI
A Silicon Valley native, Susan Wojcicki was Google’s 16th employee who skillfully pulled off Google’s YouTube purchase. As CEO of the popular video sharing site, she established herself as a key player in the video community and balanced parenthood at the same time.
Not only did she help turn Google headquarters into a supportive environment for working parents, this top executive has also pushed for federally mandated paid maternity leave.
OPRAH WINFREY
Of course, we have to mention one of the biggest media moguls ever. Oprah’s made a significant dent in the media glass ceiling: not only was she the first woman to own and produce her own TV talk show, she was also the first African American TV and film star to be featured in Vogue and she started The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), a television channel curated by Oprah and her team. As an advocate for gender equality, Oprah teamed up with Michelle Obama to host the “United State of Women” summit at the White House in 2016.
Will Oprah run for President? We can only hope. But whether she steps into politics or not, she’ll be recognized as one of the most prolific business women of our time.
MARY BARRA
In an industry deemed a man’s world, Mary Barra proved that hard work, courage and dedication don’t go unrewarded. She worked her way up from factory management to become the top executive at General Motors, and ensured the company stayed afloat at a time when it desperately needed stability.
Based on what she’s learned from the company’s 2009 bankruptcy, the GM CEO has played an advisor role for young women, helping them to actively seek out and tackle challenges head-on.
HILLARY CLINTON
The former Democratic presidential candidate has built an impressive record as a First Lady, U.S. senator and Secretary of State. Despite not winning the 2016 presidential election, Clinton did win the popular vote, taking a significant step forward for women in American politics.
America may not have been ready for Hillary then, but she helped to close an important gender gap.
ZHOU QUNFEI
The rise of this Chinese entrepreneur is the quintessential rags to riches story. Zhou Qunfei grew up in rural China and worked in a factory making watch lenses. She learned all the processes, rose through the ranks and eventually founded her own company, Lens Technology.
As both founder and CEO, she’s landed deals with major phone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, showing it’s possible to climb your way to the top with talent and true grit.
It’s been a tumultuous time for women, no doubt about that. Gender inequality has once again been exposed in politics, entertainment and business. But inspirational women have struck blows at the glass ceiling, making it impossible to turn a blind eye. We’re just going to have to keep at it in the next few years.
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Feature Photo: Peshkova / Shutterstock.com
Updated: May, 2019