The Forbes recently published its annual guide to the extraordinary female icons and leaders who command the world stage.

In this snapshot of the 100 women with the most power, top politicians, finance and business leaders, activist billionaires and celebrities are ranked by wealth, media momentum, spheres of influence and impact.

The list features nine heads of state who run nations with a combined GDP of US $11.1 trillion with 641 million citizens. Twenty-eight corporate CEOs control US$1.7 trillion in annual revenues, and 18 of these women founded their own companies or foundations.

More than half of the female leaders were American. Among the 18 female leaders in technology, a few new faces emerged this year, such as newly hired YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Cher Wang, co-founder of the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC, and Cisco's Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Padmasree Warrior.

The total social media footprint of all 100 powerful women exceeds 812 million followers.

  Virginia Rometty

 

Virginia Rometty [File photo]

Position:CEO, IBM

Age:56

Residence:Armonk, NY

Citizenship:United States

Marital Status:Married

Education:Bachelor of Arts / Science, Northwestern University