2019

Asia's Most Influential Women Leaders

The 2019 InfluenceAsia Power 100 ranking of women whose leadership shaped Asia's institutions, markets, civic life and cultural agenda.

Edited and researched by InfluenceAsia Editorial Desk. 2019 Annual Edition.

InfluenceAsia Power 100 Asia's Most Influential Women Leaders 2019 placeholder banner

100Leaders ranked

99Top index score

7Research dimensions

34Market bases

Ranking Introduction

The women leaders defining Asia's 2019 power landscape.

InfluenceAsia Power 100: Asia's Most Influential Women Leaders 2019 identifies the women whose leadership authority, institutional reach, sector contribution, public voice and strategic consequence made them central to Asia's political, economic, cultural, technological and social direction during the 2019 annual window. The ranking is an InfluenceAsia original editorial and research work; it evaluates leadership influence rather than celebrity alone, wealth alone or title alone.

This is not a wealth list, not a traffic list and not an advertising award. It is an independent InfluenceAsia research and editorial ranking focused on leadership influence, institutional consequence and public-role substance during the 2019 annual window.

The 2019 leadership cycle is defined by women at the center of state governance, capital stewardship, digital platforms, biotechnology, diplomatic negotiation, civic debate, sports achievement, cultural export and social transformation. The most consequential leaders combine formal position with visible execution: they move policy, capital, markets, institutions, audiences and public expectations.

The edition considers women leaders from Asia and Asia-centered institutions, as well as Asia-born global leaders whose 2019 work materially shaped Asian or global agendas linked to Asia. Eligible profiles include heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, chief executives, founders, investors, public intellectuals, media leaders, athletes, cultural leaders and social advocates. Inclusion recognizes leadership influence during the 2019 window and does not represent endorsement of any political, commercial or personal position.

Annual theme

Authority, Reform, Enterprise and Public Consequence

Eligibility

Publication use

Each entry includes rank, leader, market, region, field, 2019 role or platform, score, 2019 contribution, influence territory, profile language and InfluenceAsia editorial rationale. The package is prepared for ranking pages, leader cards, annual features, institutional profiles and structured web production under the InfluenceAsia editorial identity.

Representative Leaders

Eight Leaders That Define The 2019 Thesis

Tsai Ing-wen

Government, democracy and social reform

Platform: President of Taiwan
Market: Taiwan
Index: 99

Tsai Ing-wen entered 2019 as Asia's most consequential elected woman leader, combining democratic stewardship, social reform and strategic steadiness during a demanding regional security cycle.

InfluenceAsia ranks Tsai first for combining state authority, democratic symbolism and landmark 2019 social-policy consequence.

Sheikh Hasina

Government, development and national transformation

Platform: Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Market: Bangladesh
Index: 98.5

Sheikh Hasina began a new governing term in 2019 with unusual executive continuity, making Bangladesh's development, infrastructure and digital-state agenda a major South Asian leadership story.

InfluenceAsia ranks Sheikh Hasina second for commanding one of Asia's most significant development-state platforms in 2019.

Ho Ching

Investment, governance and institutional capital

Platform: Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Holdings
Market: Singapore
Index: 98

Ho Ching remained one of Asia's most powerful capital stewards in 2019, directing a globally connected investment institution central to Singapore's economic credibility.

InfluenceAsia ranks Ho Ching third for translating institutional capital into regional and global strategic influence.

Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance, economic policy and national governance

Platform: Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, India
Market: India
Index: 97.5

Nirmala Sitharaman became India's first full-time woman finance minister in 2019, assuming responsibility for one of Asia's largest economies during a critical reform and growth cycle.

InfluenceAsia ranks Nirmala Sitharaman fourth for placing a woman leader at the center of Indian economic decision-making in 2019.

Sun Chunlan

Government, public systems and social policy

Platform: Vice Premier of China
Market: China
Index: 97

Sun Chunlan remained China's highest-ranking woman official in 2019, holding senior responsibility across public-facing systems with immense population reach.

InfluenceAsia ranks Sun Chunlan fifth for the extraordinary institutional scale of her 2019 governance portfolio.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati

Finance, public economics and fiscal reform

Platform: Minister of Finance, Indonesia
Market: Indonesia
Index: 96.5

Sri Mulyani Indrawati sustained Indonesia's fiscal credibility in 2019, balancing reform discipline, infrastructure needs and investor confidence in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

InfluenceAsia ranks Sri Mulyani sixth for making fiscal professionalism a core element of Southeast Asian leadership influence.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Government, political transition and international scrutiny

Platform: State Counsellor of Myanmar
Market: Myanmar
Index: 96

Aung San Suu Kyi remained one of Asia's most internationally consequential women leaders in 2019 as Myanmar's political transition, civil-military balance and global accountability debates intensified.

InfluenceAsia ranks Aung San Suu Kyi seventh for her exceptional political consequence in Asia's 2019 governance landscape.

Carrie Lam

Government, city governance and public crisis

Platform: Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Market: Hong Kong
Index: 95.5

Carrie Lam became one of Asia's most visible city leaders in 2019 as Hong Kong's governance crisis placed executive authority, civic trust and institutional autonomy under intense attention.

InfluenceAsia ranks Carrie Lam eighth for the scale and visibility of her 2019 governance impact.

Full List

The Full List

100 leaders shown

No matching leaders found.

Rank	Leader	Platform	Market Base	Primary Sector	Index	Signal
1	Tsai Ing-wenGovernment, democracy and social reform	President of Taiwan	Taiwan	Governance and Public Leadership	99	InfluenceAsia ranks Tsai first for combining state authority, democratic symbolism and landmark 2019 social-policy consequence.
2	Sheikh HasinaGovernment, development and national transformation	Prime Minister of Bangladesh	Bangladesh	Governance and Public Leadership	98.5	InfluenceAsia ranks Sheikh Hasina second for commanding one of Asia's most significant development-state platforms in 2019.
3	Ho ChingInvestment, governance and institutional capital	Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Holdings	Singapore	Finance and Institutional Capital	98	InfluenceAsia ranks Ho Ching third for translating institutional capital into regional and global strategic influence.
4	Nirmala SitharamanFinance, economic policy and national governance	Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, India	India	Finance and Institutional Capital	97.5	InfluenceAsia ranks Nirmala Sitharaman fourth for placing a woman leader at the center of Indian economic decision-making in 2019.
5	Sun ChunlanGovernment, public systems and social policy	Vice Premier of China	China	Governance and Public Leadership	97	InfluenceAsia ranks Sun Chunlan fifth for the extraordinary institutional scale of her 2019 governance portfolio.
6	Sri Mulyani IndrawatiFinance, public economics and fiscal reform	Minister of Finance, Indonesia	Indonesia	Finance and Institutional Capital	96.5	InfluenceAsia ranks Sri Mulyani sixth for making fiscal professionalism a core element of Southeast Asian leadership influence.
7	Aung San Suu KyiGovernment, political transition and international scrutiny	State Counsellor of Myanmar	Myanmar	Governance and Public Leadership	96	InfluenceAsia ranks Aung San Suu Kyi seventh for her exceptional political consequence in Asia's 2019 governance landscape.
8	Carrie LamGovernment, city governance and public crisis	Chief Executive of Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Governance and Public Leadership	95.5	InfluenceAsia ranks Carrie Lam eighth for the scale and visibility of her 2019 governance impact.
9	Halimah YacobHead of state, civic representation and social cohesion	President of Singapore	Singapore	Governance and Public Leadership	95	InfluenceAsia ranks Halimah Yacob ninth for elevating representation and social trust within a high-credibility state platform.
10	Roshni Nadar MalhotraTechnology, enterprise stewardship and philanthropy	Chief Executive Officer, HCL Corporation; strategic leader in HCL ecosystem	India	Enterprise and Technology	94.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Roshni Nadar Malhotra tenth for representing the next phase of Indian technology and philanthropic leadership.
11	Kiran Mazumdar-ShawBiotechnology, healthcare and entrepreneurship	Founder, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon	India	Enterprise and Technology	94.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw eleventh for making biotechnology a defining arena of Indian women-led enterprise.
12	Dong MingzhuManufacturing, consumer appliances and industrial leadership	Chairwoman and President, Gree Electric Appliances	China	Enterprise and Technology	93.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Dong Mingzhu twelfth for defining woman-led industrial leadership at Chinese consumer-manufacturing scale.
13	Jean LiuMobility technology, platforms and urban services	President, Didi Chuxing	China	Enterprise and Technology	93.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Jean Liu thirteenth for shaping the consumer-mobility platform era in China.
14	Lucy PengE-commerce, fintech and platform leadership	Alibaba co-founder; senior platform executive across digital commerce and financial technology	China	Enterprise and Technology	93	InfluenceAsia ranks Lucy Peng fourteenth for her enduring role in Asia's platform-economy leadership structure.
15	Jane Jie SunOnline travel, consumer platforms and corporate leadership	Chief Executive Officer, Ctrip / Trip.com Group	China	Enterprise and Technology	92.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Jane Jie Sun fifteenth for guiding a major Asian travel platform through a global consumer cycle.
16	Lee Boo-jinHospitality, travel retail and luxury service	President and Chief Executive Officer, Hotel Shilla	South Korea	Cross-Sector Leadership	92.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Lee Boo-jin sixteenth for elevating Korean service and travel-retail leadership.
17	Lubna OlayanFinance, family enterprise and corporate governance	Chairwoman, Saudi British Bank; senior Olayan Group leader	Saudi Arabia	Finance and Institutional Capital	91.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Lubna Olayan seventeenth for her historic corporate-governance role in Saudi finance.
18	Princess Reema bint Bandar Al SaudDiplomacy, public service and women's advancement	Saudi Ambassador to the United States	Saudi Arabia	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	91.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Princess Reema eighteenth for marking a high-visibility shift in West Asian diplomatic leadership.
19	Retno MarsudiDiplomacy, foreign policy and regional engagement	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia	Indonesia	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	91	InfluenceAsia ranks Retno Marsudi nineteenth for making Indonesian diplomacy one of Asia's strongest women-led foreign-policy platforms.
20	Kang Kyung-whaDiplomacy, security and international affairs	Minister of Foreign Affairs, South Korea	South Korea	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	90.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Kang Kyung-wha twentieth for high-stakes diplomatic leadership in East Asia.
21	Yuriko KoikeCity governance, public administration and mega-event preparation	Governor of Tokyo	Japan	Cross-Sector Leadership	90.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Yuriko Koike twenty-first for city-scale leadership at the center of Japan's global presentation.
22	Nguyen Thi Kim NganLegislative leadership and state governance	Chairwoman, National Assembly of Vietnam	Vietnam	Governance and Public Leadership	89.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan twenty-second for high-level legislative authority in Vietnam's 2019 governance system.
23	Wan Azizah Wan IsmailGovernment, social policy and political transition	Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia	Malaysia	Governance and Public Leadership	89.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Wan Azizah twenty-third for her senior role in Malaysia's 2019 governing transition.
24	Leni RobredoPublic office, civic leadership and social development	Vice President of the Philippines	Philippines	Governance and Public Leadership	89	InfluenceAsia ranks Leni Robredo twenty-fourth for combining constitutional office with civic-sector leadership.
25	Mamata BanerjeeRegional government and mass politics	Chief Minister of West Bengal	India	Governance and Public Leadership	88.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Mamata Banerjee twenty-fifth for translating regional authority into national political consequence.
26	Sonia GandhiPolitical leadership and party organization	Interim President, Indian National Congress	India	Governance and Public Leadership	88.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Sonia Gandhi twenty-sixth for her continuing influence over India's national political architecture.
27	Queen Rania Al AbdullahEducation, social advocacy and public diplomacy	Queen of Jordan; education and social-development advocate	Jordan	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	87.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Queen Rania twenty-seventh for global public diplomacy anchored in education and social progress.
28	Sheikha Moza bint NasserEducation, social development and institution building	Chairperson and founder-level leader across education and development institutions	Qatar	Science, Health and Education	87.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Sheikha Moza twenty-eighth for making education a defining pillar of West Asian leadership influence.
29	Malala YousafzaiEducation rights, youth advocacy and public voice	Education advocate and global public leader	Pakistan	Science, Health and Education	87	InfluenceAsia ranks Malala twenty-ninth for sustaining one of Asia's most powerful youth-led advocacy platforms.
30	Maria RessaMedia, press freedom and digital accountability	Chief Executive Officer and editor, Rappler	Philippines	Media and Public Voice	86.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Maria Ressa thirtieth for turning journalism into a high-stakes leadership platform in 2019.
31	Nadiya MuradHuman rights, justice advocacy and survivor leadership	Human rights advocate and survivor leader	Iraq	Law, Rights and Civic Advocacy	86.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Nadiya Murad thirty-first for giving human-rights advocacy an unmistakable West Asian woman voice.
32	Gita GopinathEconomics, global policy and macroeconomic research	Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund	India / Global	Finance and Institutional Capital	85.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Gita Gopinath thirty-second for elevating Asian-origin economic expertise in global policy leadership.
33	Soumya SwaminathanGlobal health, science and public research	Chief Scientist, World Health Organization	India / Global	Science, Health and Education	85.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Soumya Swaminathan thirty-third for placing Asian medical-science leadership at the center of global health.
34	Fang LiuAviation, standards and international administration	Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organization	China / Global	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	85	InfluenceAsia ranks Fang Liu thirty-fourth for leading a global infrastructure field essential to Asian connectivity.
35	Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaDevelopment economics and regional policy	Executive Secretary, United Nations ESCAP	Indonesia / Global	Finance and Institutional Capital	84.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Armida thirty-fifth for shaping Asia-Pacific development strategy through senior multilateral leadership.
36	Yang HuiyanReal estate, family enterprise and urban consumption	Co-Chair, Country Garden Holdings	China	Finance and Institutional Capital	84.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Yang Huiyan thirty-sixth for the scale of her enterprise influence in Chinese urban development.
37	Zhou QunfeiAdvanced manufacturing and consumer electronics supply chains	Founder and Chairwoman, Lens Technology	China	Enterprise and Technology	83.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Zhou Qunfei thirty-seventh for turning precision manufacturing into global supply-chain influence.
38	Zhang XinReal estate, urban design and entrepreneurship	Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SOHO China	China	Finance and Institutional Capital	83.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Zhang Xin thirty-eighth for shaping the visual and commercial language of modern Chinese cities.
39	Pansy HoTourism, gaming, hospitality and investment	Senior executive across MGM China and Shun Tak Holdings	Hong Kong / Macau	Finance and Institutional Capital	83	InfluenceAsia ranks Pansy Ho thirty-ninth for leadership across Asian leisure, tourism and hospitality assets.
40	Solina ChauVenture investment, technology and philanthropy	Co-Founder, Horizons Ventures	Hong Kong	Finance and Institutional Capital	82.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Solina Chau fortieth for extending Asian capital into technology innovation at global scale.
41	Cher WangConsumer technology, hardware and virtual reality	Co-Founder and Chairwoman, HTC	Taiwan	Enterprise and Technology	82.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Cher Wang forty-first for her durable influence in Asian consumer technology entrepreneurship.
42	Eva ChenCybersecurity, enterprise software and technology leadership	Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Trend Micro	Taiwan / Japan	Enterprise and Technology	81.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Eva Chen forty-second for leading a critical global cybersecurity platform from Asia.
43	Yoshiko ShinoharaHuman resources, staffing and entrepreneurship	Founder, Tempstaff; senior figure in Persol Holdings legacy	Japan	Cross-Sector Leadership	81.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Yoshiko Shinohara forty-third for lasting influence on Japanese employment and women-led entrepreneurship.
44	Tomoko NambaInternet platforms, sports ownership and entrepreneurship	Founder and Chairwoman, DeNA	Japan	Enterprise and Technology	81	InfluenceAsia ranks Tomoko Namba forty-fourth for her continued role in Japanese digital entrepreneurship.
45	Keiko ErikawaGaming, entertainment technology and creative enterprise	Co-Founder and Chairwoman, Koei Tecmo	Japan	Enterprise and Technology	80.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Keiko Erikawa forty-fifth for long-cycle leadership in Asian game production and entertainment IP.
46	Falguni NayarE-commerce, beauty retail and entrepreneurship	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nykaa	India	Enterprise and Technology	80.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Falguni Nayar forty-sixth for reshaping Indian beauty commerce before its wider capital-market recognition.
47	Zia ModyLaw, corporate transactions and governance	Co-Founder and Managing Partner, AZB & Partners	India	Law, Rights and Civic Advocacy	79.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Zia Mody forty-seventh for shaping Indian corporate law and boardroom decision-making.
48	Shobhana BhartiaMedia, publishing and public discourse	Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media	India	Media and Public Voice	79.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Shobhana Bhartia forty-eighth for sustaining women-led influence in Indian media ownership and discourse.
49	Ekta KapoorEntertainment, television and streaming content	Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms; digital content entrepreneur	India	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	79	InfluenceAsia ranks Ekta Kapoor forty-ninth for commanding one of Asia's most influential mass-entertainment engines.
50	Guneet MongaFilm production, independent cinema and cultural export	Producer and founder-level leader in Indian independent film	India	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	78.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Guneet Monga fiftieth for advancing Indian independent cinema on a global platform in 2019.
51	Huda KattanBeauty, digital entrepreneurship and consumer brands	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Huda Beauty	United Arab Emirates	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	78.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Huda Kattan fifty-first for making digital beauty entrepreneurship a major Asian consumer-brand pathway.
52	Mona AtayaE-commerce, family retail and digital entrepreneurship	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mumzworld	United Arab Emirates	Enterprise and Technology	77.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Mona Ataya fifty-second for strengthening women-led e-commerce in the Gulf.
53	Sarah Al SuhaimiCapital markets, finance and exchange governance	Chairperson, Saudi Stock Exchange; senior capital-markets executive	Saudi Arabia	Finance and Institutional Capital	77.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Sarah Al Suhaimi fifty-third for leadership in one of West Asia's most important market-infrastructure shifts.
54	Raja Easa Al GurgBusiness leadership, retail and philanthropy	Managing Director, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group	United Arab Emirates	Cross-Sector Leadership	77	InfluenceAsia ranks Raja Easa Al Gurg fifty-fourth for sustained influence in Gulf enterprise and women-business leadership.
55	Nicke WidyawatiEnergy, state enterprise and infrastructure	President Director, Pertamina	Indonesia	Cross-Sector Leadership	76.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Nicke Widyawati fifty-fifth for leading one of Southeast Asia's most important energy institutions.
56	Susi PudjiastutiMaritime policy, fisheries and public reform	Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia	Indonesia	Cross-Sector Leadership	76.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Susi Pudjiastuti fifty-sixth for converting fisheries policy into a powerful national reform symbol.
57	Megawati SukarnoputriParty leadership, national politics and political legacy	Chairwoman, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle	Indonesia	Governance and Public Leadership	75.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Megawati fifty-seventh for sustained institutional power in Indonesian politics.
58	Teresita Sy-CosonRetail, banking and family-enterprise governance	Vice Chairperson, SM Investments; Chairperson, BDO Unibank	Philippines	Finance and Institutional Capital	75.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Teresita Sy-Coson fifty-eighth for leadership over major Philippine consumer and financial platforms.
59	Nguyen Thi Phuong ThaoAviation, consumer travel and entrepreneurship	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VietJet Air; Chairwoman, Sovico	Vietnam	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	75	InfluenceAsia ranks Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao fifty-ninth for building one of Vietnam's most influential consumer-travel brands.
60	Mai Kieu LienConsumer staples, dairy and corporate management	Chief Executive Officer, Vinamilk	Vietnam	Cross-Sector Leadership	74.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Mai Kieu Lien sixtieth for building Vietnamese consumer-staples leadership at national scale.
61	Nguyen Thi NgaReal estate, hospitality and financial services	Chairwoman, BRG Group	Vietnam	Finance and Institutional Capital	74.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Nguyen Thi Nga sixty-first for leadership across Vietnam's urban and consumer-asset economy.
62	Zeti Akhtar AzizCentral banking, governance and financial stewardship	Chairman, Permodalan Nasional Berhad; former central-bank governor	Malaysia	Finance and Institutional Capital	73.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Zeti Akhtar Aziz sixty-second for enduring financial-governance authority in Southeast Asia.
63	Sherry RehmanPolitics, diplomacy and public policy	Senator and senior political leader	Pakistan	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	73.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Sherry Rehman sixty-third for sustained influence in Pakistani policy and parliamentary discourse.
64	Hina Rabbani KharForeign policy, parliamentary politics and public leadership	Member of the National Assembly; former foreign minister	Pakistan	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	73	InfluenceAsia ranks Hina Rabbani Khar sixty-fourth for maintaining a significant woman voice in South Asian diplomacy.
65	Sharmeen Obaid-ChinoyDocumentary film, social advocacy and cultural leadership	Filmmaker and social-impact storyteller	Pakistan	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	72.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy sixty-fifth for using film as a leadership instrument for social visibility.
66	Fawzia KoofiPeace process, women's rights and political representation	Politician and peace-process participant	Afghanistan	Governance and Public Leadership	72.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Fawzia Koofi sixty-sixth for leadership at the intersection of peace, representation and risk.
67	Rula GhaniSocial advocacy, women's empowerment and public service	First Lady of Afghanistan	Afghanistan	Law, Rights and Civic Advocacy	71.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Rula Ghani sixty-seventh for sustaining women-centered civic advocacy in Afghanistan.
68	Mehriban AliyevaState leadership, culture and public diplomacy	First Vice-President of Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	71.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Mehriban Aliyeva sixty-eighth for holding one of the region's highest formal woman leadership posts.
69	Dariga NazarbayevaParliamentary leadership and national politics	Chairwoman, Senate of Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	Cross-Sector Leadership	71	InfluenceAsia ranks Dariga Nazarbayeva sixty-ninth for high-level parliamentary influence in Central Asia.
70	Gulshara AbdykalikovaGovernment, social policy and parliamentary leadership	Deputy Prime Minister; later senior parliamentary committee chair	Kazakhstan	Governance and Public Leadership	70.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Gulshara Abdykalikova seventieth for sustained senior policy leadership in Central Asia.
71	Bidhya Devi BhandariHead of state and constitutional representation	President of Nepal	Nepal	Governance and Public Leadership	70.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Bidhya Devi Bhandari seventy-first for her role in South Asian head-of-state representation.
72	Smriti IraniGovernment, electoral politics and social policy	Cabinet minister and member of parliament, India	India	Governance and Public Leadership	69.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Smriti Irani seventy-second for converting electoral consequence into national cabinet influence.
73	Priyanka Gandhi VadraPolitical organization and public campaigning	General Secretary, Indian National Congress	India	Governance and Public Leadership	69.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seventy-third for her visible entry into senior national political organization.
74	P.V. SindhuSports, national representation and performance leadership	Badminton world champion	India	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	69	InfluenceAsia ranks P.V. Sindhu seventy-fourth for a defining 2019 breakthrough in Asian women's sport.
75	Naomi OsakaSports, global representation and consumer culture	Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 tennis player	Japan	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	68.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Naomi Osaka seventy-fifth for making Asian women's sport globally magnetic in 2019.
76	Mary KomSports, boxing and public representation	Boxing champion and member of parliament	India	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	68.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Mary Kom seventy-sixth for sustaining one of Asia's most respected women-athlete leadership profiles.
77	Deepika PadukoneCinema, mental health advocacy and cultural influence	Actor, producer and mental-health advocate	India	Science, Health and Education	67.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Deepika Padukone seventy-seventh for combining cinematic authority with sustained public-health advocacy.
78	Priyanka Chopra JonasEntertainment, global media and humanitarian visibility	Actor, producer and global public figure	India / Global	Media and Public Voice	67.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Priyanka Chopra Jonas seventy-eighth for expanding the global reach of Asian entertainment leadership.
79	Chua Sock KoongTelecommunications, digital infrastructure and corporate leadership	Group Chief Executive Officer, Singtel	Singapore	Cross-Sector Leadership	67	InfluenceAsia ranks Chua Sock Koong seventy-ninth for executive leadership over regional digital infrastructure.
80	Tan Hooi LingTechnology platforms, mobility and entrepreneurship	Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Grab	Malaysia / Singapore	Enterprise and Technology	66.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Tan Hooi Ling eightieth for co-building one of Southeast Asia's defining digital platforms.
81	Ankiti BoseFashion commerce, startups and digital supply chains	Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Zilingo	India / Singapore	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	66.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Ankiti Bose eighty-first for representing the high-growth promise of women-led regional startups in 2019.
82	Upasana TakuFintech, digital payments and entrepreneurship	Co-Founder, MobiKwik	India	Cross-Sector Leadership	65.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Upasana Taku eighty-second for building Indian fintech capability in a high-change market.
83	Divya GokulnathEducation technology, learning and entrepreneurship	Co-Founder, BYJU'S	India	Enterprise and Technology	65.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Divya Gokulnath eighty-third for helping turn Indian edtech into a national growth category.
84	Cindy MiEducation technology and online learning	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VIPKid	China	Enterprise and Technology	65	InfluenceAsia ranks Cindy Mi eighty-fourth for scaling cross-border online education from China.
85	Wu YajunReal estate, urban services and enterprise leadership	Chairwoman, Longfor Group	China	Finance and Institutional Capital	64.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Wu Yajun eighty-fifth for leadership in China's large-scale urban property economy.
86	Wang LaichunElectronics manufacturing and global supply chains	Chairwoman, Luxshare Precision	China	Enterprise and Technology	64.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Wang Laichun eighty-sixth for advancing woman-led leadership in advanced manufacturing supply chains.
87	Kathy XuVenture capital, consumer internet and investment	Founder, Capital Today	China	Finance and Institutional Capital	63.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Kathy Xu eighty-seventh for shaping Chinese startup outcomes through high-conviction investment.
88	Anna FangVenture capital, startups and technology ecosystems	Chief Executive Officer and Partner, ZhenFund	China	Finance and Institutional Capital	63.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Anna Fang eighty-eighth for helping define China's early-stage venture landscape.
89	Jenny LeeVenture capital, deep technology and regional investment	Managing Partner, GGV Capital	Singapore / China	Finance and Institutional Capital	63	InfluenceAsia ranks Jenny Lee eighty-ninth for sustained influence in Asian venture capital.
90	Arundhati BhattacharyaBanking, governance and institutional leadership	Senior financial-sector leader and former Chairperson, State Bank of India	India	Finance and Institutional Capital	62.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Arundhati Bhattacharya ninetieth for enduring influence in Indian banking leadership.
91	Meena GaneshHealth services, eldercare and entrepreneurship	Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Portea Medical	India	Science, Health and Education	62.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Meena Ganesh ninety-first for building an Indian health-services category with social relevance.
92	Suchi MukherjeeE-commerce, fashion retail and women consumers	Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LimeRoad	India	Enterprise and Technology	61.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Suchi Mukherjee ninety-second for advancing women-centered fashion commerce in India.
93	Nualphan LamsamInsurance, sports leadership and public culture	Chief Executive Officer, Muang Thai Insurance; football team leader	Thailand	Culture, Sport and Consumer Influence	61.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Nualphan Lamsam ninety-third for blending Thai corporate leadership with sports influence.
94	Chadatip ChutrakulRetail property, tourism and urban consumer experience	Chief Executive Officer, Siam Piwat Group	Thailand	Cross-Sector Leadership	61	InfluenceAsia ranks Chadatip Chutrakul ninety-fourth for shaping Thailand's premium consumer-destination landscape.
95	Maki AkaidaApparel retail, operations and consumer brand leadership	Chief Executive Officer, Uniqlo Japan	Japan	Cross-Sector Leadership	60.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Maki Akaida ninety-fifth for advancing women-led execution in Japanese apparel retail.
96	Sanae TakaichiGovernment, communications policy and conservative politics	Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan	Japan	Governance and Public Leadership	60.2	InfluenceAsia ranks Sanae Takaichi ninety-sixth for senior cabinet influence in Japan's 2019 policy environment.
97	Masoumeh EbtekarGovernment, women and family affairs, environmental legacy	Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Iran	Iran	Governance and Public Leadership	59.8	InfluenceAsia ranks Masoumeh Ebtekar ninety-seventh for sustained senior public-service influence in Iran.
98	Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al ThaniCulture, museums and creative diplomacy	Chairperson, Qatar Museums	Qatar	Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs	59.4	InfluenceAsia ranks Sheikha Al Mayassa ninety-eighth for leadership in West Asian cultural diplomacy.
99	Lisa SuSemiconductors, computing and global technology leadership	President and Chief Executive Officer, AMD	Taiwan / Global	Enterprise and Technology	59	InfluenceAsia ranks Lisa Su ninety-ninth for exceptional global technology leadership with strong Asian-origin significance.
100	Jayshree UllalEnterprise technology, networking and executive leadership	President and Chief Executive Officer, Arista Networks	India / Global	Enterprise and Technology	58.6	InfluenceAsia ranks Jayshree Ullal one hundredth for representing Asian-origin leadership in global enterprise technology.

Methodology

How InfluenceAsia Built The Ranking

Women Leader Universe Formation

InfluenceAsia formed a 2019 universe of women leaders across government, diplomacy, business, finance, technology, media, law, science, culture, sport and social advocacy with material relevance to Asia.

Eligibility Review

Leaders were reviewed for 2019 role relevance, public authority, institutional substance, sector contribution and Asian or Asia-centered influence. Profiles were excluded when the 2019 leadership case was primarily ceremonial, inactive or insufficiently connected to the annual window.

Influence Scoring

Each leader was assessed across seven weighted dimensions: 2019 leadership consequence, institutional authority and decision scope, sector contribution and execution, Asia relevance, public voice and cultural authority, cross-border influence and strategic durability.

Temporal Discipline

Entries are written from a 2019 publication perspective. Later achievements, later controversies, post-2019 resignations, later elections, future awards or subsequent market outcomes are not used to elevate or diminish the 2019 ranking position.

Editorial Calibration

InfluenceAsia calibrated the final list to balance political power, economic influence, institutional leadership, cultural visibility, social contribution, regional representation and sector diversity. Formal office alone is not sufficient; public consequence and field contribution are also required.

Publication Standard

All entries are prepared as InfluenceAsia-branded publication language suitable for formal ranking pages, leader cards, annual profiles, institutional features and structured digital content.

Research Dimension	Weight	Definition
2019 Leadership Consequence	22	The leader's visible contribution during the 2019 annual window, including policy, enterprise execution, public agenda-setting, category transformation, civic relevance or institutional action.
Institutional Authority and Decision Scope	18	The formal or practical authority attached to the leader's office, company, platform, institution, movement or public mandate in 2019.
Sector Contribution and Execution	16	The leader's operating contribution to governance, finance, technology, health, media, law, culture, sports, education, consumer markets, diplomacy or social progress.
Asia Relevance	14	The leader's importance to Asian citizens, households, companies, institutions, markets, public systems, cross-border relations or regional competitiveness.
Public Voice and Cultural Authority	12	The leader's ability to shape public conversation, aspiration, trust, representation, identity, social behavior or the symbolic visibility of women in leadership.
Cross-Border Influence	10	The leader's reach across national borders through diplomacy, investment, platforms, global institutions, media circulation, exports, advocacy or international achievement.
Strategic Durability	8	The strength of the leader's 2019 position as a foundation for continued relevance across the next cycle of Asian leadership.

Copyright, Data Notes and Editorial Disclaimer

Copyright Notice

Copyright 2019 InfluenceAsia. All rights reserved. The ranking architecture, selection logic, scoring presentation, editorial wording, profile language and leader rationales are prepared as an InfluenceAsia original editorial and research work.

Research Independence

InfluenceAsia Power 100: Asia's Most Influential Women Leaders 2019 is independently researched, structured and edited by InfluenceAsia. Inclusion, exclusion, ranking order, score and descriptive emphasis are determined by InfluenceAsia editorial judgment under the published methodology.

No Endorsement

Inclusion in the ranking does not imply endorsement, approval, affiliation, nomination, payment, participation, partnership, authorization or agreement by any ranked leader, employer, government, institution, company, foundation, campaign, party or representative.

Editorial Nature

The ranking is an editorial and research product. It is not a political endorsement, professional certification, legal assessment, financial recommendation, due-diligence report, employment reference, character judgment, award conferral or verification of private matters.

Temporal Accuracy

Roles, offices, platforms, markets and editorial descriptions are presented within the 2019 annual window. Subsequent role changes, later disputes, post-2019 achievements, later awards, resignations, appointments, legal developments or public controversies are outside the ranking period.

Advice and Endorsement Limits

This publication is not investment advice, legal advice, employment advice, political endorsement, commercial endorsement or a due-diligence report. Scores and rankings are editorial indicators for the 2019 InfluenceAsia list context only.