Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Mo Abudu, the Chief Executive Officer of the EbonyLife Group, have once again been recognized in Forbes’ list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.
In the latest ranking, Okonjo-Iweala is placed at 89, marking the eighth time she has been included on the prestigious list. Abudu, at 97, makes her fourth consecutive appearance. Okonjo-Iweala was recently re-elected as WTO’s Director-General.
Abudu expressed her excitement, saying, I am deeply humbled to feature once again on the Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list. It is an incredible honor to represent the media and entertainment sector, stand as a proud Black woman, and fly the flag for Nigeria and Africa on this prestigious global platform.
A huge congratulations to all the phenomenal women on this list! A special shoutout to my dearest sister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose unwavering brilliance and leadership inspire us all year after year.
Abudu also highlighted the significance of representation, noting how the recognition of women of color and women from developing nations globally encourages others to break barriers.
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Forbes noted that the women on this year’s list are defying challenges to female progress. Examples include Malina Ngai, who became Group CEO of AS Watson, the world’s largest health and beauty retailer; Melinda French Gates, who has committed $1 billion over the next two years to advance women’s power; and India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who is overseeing an economy poised to become the world’s third-largest.
Forbes also emphasized the importance of progress, pointing to Claudia Sheinbaum’s historic victory in the Mexican presidential election just 71 years after women gained the right to vote in Mexico.
They also noted that women not in the top 100 may still wield significant influence and are continuing to rise in power. A study revealed gender differences in how men and women showcase their skills on LinkedIn, with men more likely to highlight leadership and negotiation, while women emphasize support-oriented skills. Even women in leadership roles are less likely than men to promote their leadership abilities.
