CNBC has begun accepting nominations for its 2027 Changemakers list, a high-profile annual ranking that recognises women leading and disrupting business across the global economy. The list has become one of the network's most visible editorial properties for tracking leadership beyond traditional corporate metrics, with a focus on women shaping outcomes at major public companies, in sports, in philanthropy and in other sectors where business influence increasingly intersects with social and financial power.
The call for nominations comes at a moment when the conversation around leadership is shifting from representation alone to measurable impact. In boardrooms, capital markets and executive suites, companies are under growing scrutiny to demonstrate that leadership pipelines are broadening in ways that affect performance, innovation and resilience. CNBC's Changemakers franchise reflects that shift by elevating women whose influence is not confined to a single industry or title, but who are actively redefining what leadership looks like in practice.
Leadership Beyond Titles
The 2027 list is expected to continue CNBC's emphasis on women who are not merely occupying senior roles, but who are changing the structure and direction of the businesses they lead. That includes executives at S&P 500 companies, founders scaling new ventures, operators in consumer and industrial sectors, and leaders whose work extends into sports ownership, media, nonprofit strategy and philanthropic capital. The breadth of the list underscores a broader market reality: business leadership is now measured as much by ecosystem influence as by quarterly results.
For investors and corporate decision-makers, the Changemakers list functions as more than a profile series. It is also a signal of where influence is accumulating in the economy. Women who are steering large organisations, launching category-defining companies or deploying capital in new ways are increasingly shaping strategic priorities across industries. Their decisions can affect hiring, supply chains, consumer behaviour, public policy debates and the flow of investment into emerging sectors.
The timing of the nominations also matters. As central banks and policymakers continue to navigate a global environment marked by uneven growth, sticky inflation in some markets and fragile confidence in others, the business leaders most likely to stand out are those capable of adapting quickly while maintaining credibility with stakeholders. CNBC's editorial lens appears designed to capture that combination of operational discipline and broader influence.
A Broader Business Signal
The Changemakers initiative also highlights how the definition of business leadership has expanded beyond the confines of listed companies. Women in sports, philanthropy and adjacent sectors increasingly wield economic power that rivals that of traditional corporate executives. Sports franchises are now major commercial assets, philanthropy is often deployed as strategic capital, and mission-driven ventures can move markets by shaping consumer expectations and investor sentiment.
That expansion is significant for the global economy. It suggests that leadership pipelines are no longer linear, and that the next generation of business power may emerge from a wider set of institutions than the classic Fortune 500 model. For younger executives and founders, the list offers a public benchmark for the kinds of careers that are gaining recognition: cross-sector, high-impact and often built on the ability to influence both profit and purpose.
CNBC's nomination process also serves a practical editorial function. It invites companies, peers and observers to identify women whose work may not always receive the same visibility as that of their male counterparts, despite comparable or greater influence. In doing so, the network helps shape the public record of who is driving change in business at a time when visibility itself can affect access to capital, partnerships and future leadership opportunities.
What The List Measures
The Changemakers list is likely to be judged not only by the prominence of the names it includes, but by the quality of the transformation those names represent. In an era when many firms are reassessing growth strategies, talent models and stakeholder expectations, the most compelling leaders are often those who can deliver results while also altering the institutions around them. That may mean building new markets, improving governance, expanding access or changing how success is defined.
For CNBC, the annual list also reinforces a broader editorial message: women are not a niche category in business leadership, but central actors in the global economy. By opening nominations for 2027, the network is effectively asking the market to identify who is setting the pace for the next phase of corporate and economic change.
The final list, when published, is expected to draw attention from executives, investors and policymakers looking for a sharper read on where influence is moving. In a business environment increasingly shaped by disruption, the women selected for CNBC's Changemakers list will likely be seen not just as successful leaders, but as indicators of where the future of business is headed.