This yr, Fortune’s Asia workforce is highlighting a number of girls leaders who’re exhibiting affect and energy past the company boardroom.
Right here’s who made it onto Fortune’s first-ever “Most Influential Women” rating: Twelve girls 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 on the world—and woman group Blackpink has been at its crest. Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo have damaged quite a few information since their debut in 2016: the primary to promote a million, then two million, album copies in South Korea; the primary Korean group to high the Billboard 200 album chart; the highest-grossing live performance tour by a feminine artist. Blackpink, and Ok-pop and Ok-culture extra broadly, at the moment are a supply of South Korean “soft power,” 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 turn out to be 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 vogue.—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia editor
Josephine Teo
Appointed as Singapore’s minister for digital growth and data in 2024, Josephine Teo is the driving power behind Good 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 world security initiatives on the 2025 AI Motion Summit in France. She’s prioritized constructing an AI-fluent workforce, with strong coaching partnerships inserting greater than 2,600 professionals in AI, information 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 position as minister for manpower, she carried out a 10-year highway map to lift retirement and reemployment ages, championed a 30% cumulative wage enhance for important staff, and expanded wage assist for Singapore’s most susceptible 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 observe that nobody had been capable of change. Individuals who work for Koike name her a breath of recent air. I’ve recognized Koike for over 20 years. She distinguished herself in stints as Japan’s atmosphere 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. Plenty of issues in Japan have modified for the higher concerning gender variety. However what hasn’t modified sufficient is the necessity for extra girls in decision-making positions. Whereas 70% of Japanese girls work outdoors the house, half of these work part-time. That’s helped result in a scarcity of ladies in management roles in politics and in enterprise. Koike’s profession is a robust counterexample. Her file as a reformer, communicator, and disaster supervisor helps broaden what’s doable for ladies and strengthens Tokyo’s capability to guide on the world stage.—Kathy Matsui, Normal Accomplice, MPower Companions
Michelle Yeoh
Since profitable the Academy Award for Greatest Actress in 2023 for her groundbreaking position in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, Michelle Yeoh has turn out to be a robust 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 popularity of her versatility and depth in various roles. Past appearing, 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
Contemporary off her standout position in Wong Kar-wai’s “Blossoms Shanghai,” Xin Zhilei cemented her worldwide ascent final month when she gained the Greatest Actress award on the Venice Movie Pageant for “The Sun Rises on Us All.” She’s solely the third Chinese language actor to assert the glory. On Weibo—China’s main microblogging platform—and Instagram, her suggestions enhance books, movies, and rising creators. Her model partnerships and red-carpet presence shapes model 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 ultimate 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 function in Grand Slam fundamental attracts, and has climbed as excessive as No. 54 within the world rankings. Her success has lifted tennis’s profile throughout Southeast Asia, notably within the Philippines. Federations and colleges at the moment are 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 workforce each bridged cultures and, on the similar time, sparked discussions about identification and nationalism. Geopolitical tensions could also be making her try to straddle that cultural divide somewhat trickier, but Gu has remained targeted on sport and advocacy, pushing for higher 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 world manufacturers like Luckin Espresso, JD.com, Estee Lauder, and Tiffany & Co.
Naomi Osaka of Japan leaves the courtroom after her match towards Aliaksandra Sasnovich within the Ladies’s Singles Second Spherical match on day6 of 2025 China Open at Nationwide Tennis Middle on September 27, 2025 in Beijing, China.
Lintao Zhang—Getty Photos
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka reveals that nationwide identification generally is a fluid factor, notably on this planet of elite skilled sports activities. Osaka, born in Japan in 1997, spent most of her life within the U.S., coaching to turn out to be 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 courtroom after a short break following the beginning of her baby.
She’s additionally embracing her position 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 continues to be driving the worldwide cultural dialog: Her custom-made Labubu dolls—like “Andre Swagassi”—are contributing to the worldwide hype over Pop Mart’s buzzy toys.
Zheng Qinwen
Zheng Qinwen defines Chinese language girls’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 world 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 world ambassador and a associate of Rolex and Audi.
Further blurbs written by Nicholas Gordon, Charmaine Ng and Ashleigh Nghiem.
