Singapore celebrated a moment of national pride as three of its leaders were named to Forbes’ 2025 list of teh world’s most powerful women. DBS CEO Tan su Shan, Temasek Trust chair Ho Ching, and Granite Asia Senior Managing Partner Jenny Lee joined the ranks of global figures like Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde.
Tan Su Shan, who became DBS’s first female CEO in march 2025, debuted at No. 29.Forbes highlighted her role in building DBS’s wealth management and institutional
Forbes’ List of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2024: Highlights and Singaporean Representation
Forbes has released its annual list of the World’s 100 Most powerful Women for 2024, showcasing influential leaders across various sectors globally. the list highlights women making significant impacts in politics, finance, technology, philanthropy, and culture.
Key Highlights:
The list is topped by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, followed by European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.A group of 13 billionaires are featured, with their combined wealth reaching $180.5 billion, an increase from $163.7 billion in 2023. Notable billionaires on the list include MacKenzie Scott (#11), Abigail Johnson (#9), Gina Rinehart (#52), Melinda french Gates (#13), and Laurene Powell Jobs (#22). Other prominent figures include Judith Faulkner (#54), Melanie Perkins (#93), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (#83), Oprah Winfrey (#30), Solina Chau Hoi Shuen (#87), Taylor swift (#21), kim Kardashian (#71), Lisa Su (#10), Daniela Amodei (#73), and Jayshree Ullal (#64).
Singaporean Representation:
singapore is represented by three women on the list, demonstrating the city-state’s growing global influence in finance, philanthropy, and venture capital. Jenny lee, managing partner at Granite Asia, holds the 96th position. She is recognized for her investments in edtech, fintech, and metaverse companies, having backed 21 firms valued at over US$1 billion and overseen 17 IPOs across five exchanges.
Broader Trends:
Maggie mcgrath, editor of ForbesWomen, emphasized the evolving definition of power, stating, “Power today isn’t confined to any one sector or title, and this year’s list makes that undeniable.” The inclusion of women from diverse backgrounds and fields reflects increasing gender leadership across Asia and globally, notably in politics, finance, and innovation.
The full list of Forbes’ The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women can be viewed here.
Sources:
* Forbes: The world’s 100 Most Powerful women