#Saudi Arabia #Riyadh #Fortune #Riyadh Summit #Powerful Women

Fortune Magazine to Host First International Summit of Powerful Women

In a historic move, Fortune Magazine will convene the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 20-21, 2025. The summit aims to unite influential women leaders from various sectors worldwide, fostering discussions centered around the theme of “A New Era of Business: Partnership for Global Prosperity.” This exclusive event is designed for invited guests only, emphasizing the importance of women in leadership roles.

This summit is a part of Fortune's comprehensive platform, bringing together premier female leaders from diverse industries and governmental bodies. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions regarding pivotal factors shaping the global business landscape, examining how both the public and private sectors can collaborate to nurture innovation and growth.

Focus Areas of the Summit

The agenda will delve into several critical topics, including:

• - Assessing Global Leadership during crises.
• - Navigating economic changes and their broad implications for business.
• - Implementation of new technologies at scale.
• - Exploring investment opportunities and healthcare development.
• - Enhancing business ventures in sectors like sports, entertainment, and design.

This comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is making significant investments into ~~women’s~~ roles in business and society, as energized by its Vision 2030 initiative. Women’s participation in the workforce has dramatically increased from 17% in 2017 to 36% today. Moreover, women now own 45% of small and medium enterprises in the nation, contributing significantly to the economic landscape.

Opportunities for Global Leaders

The Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Riyadh promises to offer global leaders access to a rapidly evolving market, paving the way for strategic partnerships and access to a growing community of innovative thinkers.

Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, CEO of Fortune, remarked, “Fortune Magazine aims to stand at the forefront of new global business frontiers, and Saudi Arabia is a key location for this initiative. It is time to gather the world’s most influential and innovative women to inspire, connect, and advocate for meaningful progress in global business and governance.”

Alyson Shontell, editor-in-chief at Fortune, echoes this sentiment by highlighting Saudi Arabia's essential role in the global economy. She stated, “At Fortune, we strive to improve the business environment through impactful journalism. Given the rapid advancements in Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning women, we are enthusiastic about documenting and showcasing these developments.”

The Iconic List

Additionally, on May 20, Fortune will unveil its prestigious list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business. This recognition has celebrated global pioneers for 28 years, acknowledging their role in driving innovation across industries like finance, technology, healthcare, telecommunications, retail, and energy. The 2024 list featured women from 19 countries and territories across 14 sectors, with over half being CEOs from Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies.

The upcoming summit will collaborate with the Saudi General Authority for Exhibitions and Events (SCEGA), marking a significant step toward recognizing and supporting women's contributions to the workforce and enterprise.

About Fortune

Fortune is a global multiplatform media company rooted in a legacy of reliable journalism and information, aimed at individuals who want to enhance their business ventures. Independent in ownership, Fortune tells the stories of leading companies and their innovators worldwide, alongside emergent innovators driving business forward. The magazine measures corporate performance against rigorous standards, fostering accountability within global markets. Its renowned rankings like Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, and Most Powerful Women are well-regarded indicators of corporate excellence. Through high-level summits and conferences, such as the Fortune Global Forum, Brainstorm Tech, and the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, the magazine cultivates world-class communities among industry leaders.

For more information, visit fortune.com.