The 50 Most Influential Mums of 2017

These powerful working women have mastered the art of pursuing a professional career while still being prodigious mothers

By Annabelle Fernandez - published 11 May 2017

Working Mother is honouring the most powerful moms pursuing professional careers with its annual list, released today.

Some no-brainers on the list include Beyoncé, Sheryl Sandberg, Melinda Gates and Shonda Rhimes, with political names like Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump also making the cut. (Hillary and Melania did not.) Activists like Linda Sarsour and Bob Bland of the Women's March and feminist writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie received nods as well. Tory Burch, Victoria Beckham, and mom-to-be Amal Clooney also landed spots on the list.

Not all successful women have to be mothers, but this roster highlights trailblazers in various industries — entrepreneurs, CEOs, activists and Hollywood stars—who also happen to be moms. See the full ranking below.

The 50 Most Powerful Mums of 2017

1. Melinda Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/Businesswoman.

2. Linda Sarsour and Bob Bland, National Co-Chairs of Women’s March on Washington.

3. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO, Save the Children.

4. Amal Clooney, Human Rights Attorney.

5. Adele, Musician/Songwriter/Producer.

6. Samantha Bee, Television Host/Writer/Producer.

7. Beyoncé, Actress/Musician/Producer.

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8. Viola Davis, Actress/Producer.

9. Nicole Kidman, Actress/Producer.

10. Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Pictures.

11. Melissa McCarthy, Actress/Producer/Writer/Fashion Designer.

12. Shonda Rhimes, Producer/Director/Writer.

13. Dana Walden, Co-Chairman/CEO, Fox Television Group: 20th Century Fox Television, FOX Broadcasting Company.

14. Kerry Washington, Actress/Activist.

15. Reese Witherspoon, Actress/Producer/Entrepreneur.

16. Victoria Beckham, Fashion Designer/Singer.

17. Sara Blakely, Founder and CEO, Spanx.

18. Tory Burch, Chairman, CEO and Designer, Tory Burch.

19. Carolyn Rafaelian, Founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Alex and Ani, Owner, Sakonnet Vineyards.

20. Cathy Bessant, COO, CTO, Bank of America.

21. Cathy Engelbert, CEO, Deloitte.

22. Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

23. Dawn Fitzpatrick, Chief Investment Officer, Soros Fund Management.

24. Adena Friedman, President and CEO, NASDAQ.

25. Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments.

26. Abigail Johnson, Chairman, Fidelity Investments.

27. Jennifer Morgan, President, SAP North America.

28. Julie Sweet, CEO, Accenture North America.

29. Kathryn Finney, Founder, Managing Director, digitalundivided, Author.

30. Jennifer Fonstad, Partner, Aspect Ventures/Entrepreneur.

31. Kirsten Green, Founder, Forerunner Ventures.

32. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Director, Hurley Children’s Hospital’s pediatric residency program and Hurley-Michigan State University Pediatric Public Health Initiative.

33. Katharine Hayhoe, Professor and Director, Climate Science Center, Texas Tech University, Founder and CEO of ATMOS Research.

34. Ann Miura-Ko, Co-Founder, Floodgate, Lecturer, School of Engineering, Stanford University.

35. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Bioengineering Professor, Rice University.

36. Gwynne Shotwell, COO, SpaceX, U.S.

37. Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook/Author/Advocate.

38. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Novelist, Essayist.

39. J.K. Rowling, Author, Philanthropist.

40. Lorraine Twohill, SVP of Global Marketing, Google.

41. Susan Wojcicki, CEO, YouTube.

42. Chelsea Clinton, Vice-Chair, Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

43. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator, Illinois.

44. Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator, New York.