This yr, Fortune’s Asia crew is highlighting a number of ladies leaders who’re exhibiting affect and energy past the company boardroom.
Right here’s who made it onto Fortune’s first-ever “Most Influential Girls” rating: Twelve ladies from popular culture, policymaking {and professional} sports activities, who collectively present the varied ways in which energy will get expressed throughout the Asia-Pacific.
Blackpink
Hallyu, the Korean wave, is taking up the world—and woman group Blackpink has been at its crest. Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo have damaged quite a few data since their debut in 2016: the primary to promote a million, then two million, album copies in South Korea; the primary Korean group to prime the Billboard 200 album chart; the highest-grossing live performance tour by a feminine artist. Blackpink, and Ok-pop and Ok-culture extra broadly, are actually a supply of South Korean “mushy energy,” increasing the nation’s cultural affect throughout Asia and past.
Blackpink’s particular person artists have launched their very own businesses as they attempt to develop into stars in their very own proper: Lisa’s LLOUD, Jennie’s Odd Atelier and Jisoo’s Blissoo. It’s a brand new enterprise for Ok-Pop, usually dominated by large businesses like YG Leisure (which personal Blackpink), Hybe and SM Leisure. Now, Lisa, Jennie and others are branching to new media like tv and style.—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia editor
Josephine Teo
Appointed as Singapore’s minister for digital improvement and data in 2024, Josephine Teo is the driving pressure behind Sensible Nation 2.0, which commits 1 billion Singapore {dollars} ($780 million) towards AI for the general public good. Teo has overseen updates to the nation’s pioneering AI governance framework— one of many world’s first nationwide AI methods—introducing new requirements for generative AI and asserting international security initiatives on the 2025 AI Motion Summit in France. She’s prioritized constructing an AI-fluent workforce, with sturdy coaching partnerships inserting greater than 2,600 professionals in AI, knowledge analytics, and cybersecurity roles. Teo hung out at Singapore’s Financial Growth Board and its Company for Science, Expertise, and Analysis earlier than making her political debut in 2006. In a earlier function as minister for manpower, she applied a 10-year street map to lift retirement and reemployment ages, championed a 30% cumulative wage improve for important staff, and expanded wage help for Singapore’s most weak residents.—Ayesha Khanna, CEO of Addo AI
Amal Alhasan—Getty Photos for Fortune Media
Yuriko Koike
When Yuriko Koike turned governor of Tokyo in 2016, she wasted no time pushing for effectivity. One among her first reforms was eliminating the usage of “chops,” or seals, on official paperwork, an archaic apply that nobody had been capable of change. Individuals who work for Koike name her a breath of contemporary air. I’ve identified Koike for over 20 years. She distinguished herself in stints as Japan’s surroundings and protection minister. One initiative was her “Cool Biz” marketing campaign, encouraging males to ditch neckties, and places of work to show up the thermostat to preserve power. As Tokyo’s governor, Koike managed the COVID pandemic and the 2020 Olympics: She was on TV each evening, explaining what the federal government was doing. A variety of issues in Japan have modified for the higher concerning gender range. However what hasn’t modified sufficient is the necessity for extra ladies in decision-making positions. Whereas 70% of Japanese ladies work exterior the house, half of these work part-time. That’s helped result in an absence of ladies in management roles in politics and in enterprise. Koike’s profession is a strong counterexample. Her document as a reformer, communicator, and disaster supervisor helps increase what’s doable for ladies and strengthens Tokyo’s capability to guide on the world stage.—Kathy Matsui, Common Associate, MPower Companions
Michelle Yeoh
Since profitable the Academy Award for Finest Actress in 2023 for her groundbreaking function in “Every thing In every single place All at As soon as”, Michelle Yeoh has develop into a strong advocate for illustration within the movie trade. With a profession spanning over 4 many years, Yeoh has helped pave the best way for Asian actors on the worldwide stage. Her journey started in Hong Kong cinema, the place she gained fame for her roles in motion movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. She has since transitioned to Hollywood, incomes approval for her versatility and depth in various roles. Past performing, she’s championed causes like gender equality and environmental sustainability, leveraging her social media presence and public talking engagements to push for change.
Xin Zhilei
Recent off her standout function in Wong Kar-wai’s “Blossoms Shanghai,” Xin Zhilei cemented her worldwide ascent final month when she gained the Finest Actress award on the Venice Movie Competition for “The Solar Rises on Us All.” She’s solely the third Chinese language actor to say the consideration. On Weibo—China’s main microblogging platform—and Instagram, her suggestions increase books, movies, and rising creators. Her model partnerships and red-carpet presence shapes fashion conversations throughout Asia, whereas behind the scenes, she’s championing sharper scripts and female-forward casting.
Alexandra “Alex” Eala
Alexandra Eala is a trailblazer for Filipino tennis. She reached her first WTA Tour remaining in June at simply 20. She then added a WTA 125 title, and now owns a junior Grand Slam singles crown. Coaching in each Manila and the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, she’s now a daily characteristic in Grand Slam fundamental attracts, and has climbed as excessive as No. 54 within the international rankings. Her success has lifted tennis’s profile throughout Southeast Asia, significantly within the Philippines. Federations and colleges are actually increasing tennis courts, teaching and ladies’ applications—proof that one athlete is all it takes to spice up a sport’s profile.
Eileen Feng Gu
Eileen Gu took the world by storm when she made historical past in 2022, profitable three Olympic medals in freestyle snowboarding on the age of 18. Born in San Francisco to a Chinese language mom, Gu’s resolution to compete for the Chinese language crew each bridged cultures and, on the similar time, sparked discussions about id and nationalism. Geopolitical tensions could also be making her try to straddle that cultural divide a bit of trickier, but Gu has remained centered on sport and advocacy, pushing for larger consciousness of each psychological well being and environmental sustainability. Gu can also be a sought-after mannequin and model ambassador, working with each home and international manufacturers like Luckin Espresso, JD.com, Estee Lauder, and Tiffany & Co.
Lintao Zhang—Getty Photos
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka exhibits that nationwide id could be a fluid factor, significantly on the planet of elite skilled sports activities. Osaka, born in Japan in 1997, spent most of her life within the U.S., coaching to develop into an elite tennis participant. She’s embraced her Japanese origins, representing the Asian nation in worldwide sporting competitions and lighting the Olympic torch on the 2020 Tokyo Video games. Osaka has used her platform to champion social causes and the significance of psychological well being. She’s now again on the court docket after a short break following the start of her little one.
She’s additionally embracing her function as a cultural tastemaker: She’s launched her personal expertise company and is investing in endeavors to spice up the sphere of ladies’s sports activities. And Osaka remains to be driving the worldwide cultural dialog: Her personalized Labubu dolls—like “Andre Swagassi”—are contributing to the worldwide hype over Pop Mart’s buzzy toys.
Zheng Qinwen
Zheng Qinwen defines Chinese language ladies’s tennis. In 2024, she gained the Olympic gold for singles tennis in Paris and reached the ultimate of the Australian Open. By June of this yr, she’d climbed to No. 4 within the international rankings—solely the second Chinese language girl after Li Na to enter the highest 5. Her affect is seen in popular culture as a lot as in skilled sports activities: She’s impressed watch events and inspired extra Chinese language tennis gamers. And he or she’s proved to be a marketable athlete too, as a Dior international ambassador and a associate of Rolex and Audi.
Further blurbs written by Nicholas Gordon, Charmaine Ng and Ashleigh Nghiem.
