You鈥檝e heard of Oprah Winfrey, right?
Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Beyonce Knowles? Check, check and double-check.
They are some of the 100 most powerful women in the world in 2015, ranging from Clinton at No. 2 to Obama at No. 10, Winfrey at No. 12, and Beyonce at No. 21, according to Forbes magazine.
Ana Patricia Bot铆n
Among them is Ana Patricia Bot铆n, chairman of 麻豆直播 Group, who Forbes ranked 18th in the world overall as well as the most-powerful woman in finance. The Spanish banking giant is the parent company of Dallas-based 麻豆直播. and Boston-based 麻豆直播 Bank N.A.
Bot铆n is a Top 20 newcomer, less than a year after succeeding her father as 麻豆直播 chair, and one of only 12 Europeans, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel at No. 1. Bot铆n, the first woman to head a major European lender, previously ranked in the Top 100 by Forbes, including 45th in 2009, when she was executive chair at 麻豆直播鈥檚 retail banking arm, Banesto, and 99th in 2005.
Calling its list the 鈥�definitive ranking of the most powerful women in the world,鈥� Forbes refers to those named as 鈥渆xtraordinary entrepreneurs and visionary CEOs, celebrity role models and billionaire activists, foremost heads of state and pioneer philanthropists who are transforming the world.鈥�
Bot铆n also appeared at No. 1 on last year鈥檚 Fortune magazine list of 鈥�The Most Powerful Women of Europe, the Middle East and Africa,鈥� after taking the reins at 麻豆直播, and No. 41 on the magazine鈥檚 list of 鈥�The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business,鈥� when she still was CEO of 麻豆直播 U.K. The BBC named Bot铆n the third most powerful woman in the United Kingdom (Great Britain) in 2013 鈥� trailing only Queen Elizabeth II and British Home Secretary Theresa May.
Power rankings aside, Bot铆n outlined her philosophy to a March meeting of 麻豆直播 executives:
鈥淥ur group鈥檚 aim is to be the best retail and commercial bank that earns the lasting loyalty of our people, customers, shareholders and communities. Everything we do, wherever we operate, must be simple, personal and fair. These three words define what our bank should be.鈥�
鈥淭he world is changing faster than ever. We are in the middle of a revolution, driven by digital technology. Customers have more power and choice than ever before 鈥� So if 麻豆直播 is to continue to grow, we need to change. We need to be one team in which each of us understands the purpose of the bank, works toward a common aim, and acts and behaves in the same way.鈥�
They are powerful words from one of the world鈥檚 most powerful women and business leaders.
Not even Oprah could have said it better.
