Earlier this week, I asked for your predictions for 2026 on questions ranging from women’s rethinking of corporate America to the ongoing impact of AI. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their perspectives. You’re realistic about the challenges ahead—yet still bullish about women’s ability to push through them, make change, and deliver real results. Here’s what you’re expecting in the new year:
“In 2026, companies that fail to materially advance women into real decision-making roles will risk measurable economic consequences. Companies that succeed next year and beyond will be those that treat women’s advancement as an operating infrastructure tied to accountability, incentives, and outcomes, rather than as a values statement.” —Michelle Carnahan, co-founder & CEO of Arbiter
“Historically, women have excelled in connective tissue roles like COO, strategy, and planning. In 2026, we will see these operational roles become the primary feeder for the CEO seat (as AI automates routine tasks, orchestrating complex systems and driving speed will be the most valued skills in leaders). That fundamentally changes the traditional path to the top.” —Eléonore Crespo, co-founder and co-CEO of Pigment
“I don’t anticipate a meaningful increase in the share of female founders in 2026. There hasn’t been a shift in dynamics that would spark that change. Vision and execution ultimately matter most, but competing against companies backed by significantly larger rounds makes the climb steeper.” —Amy Wu Martin, partner, Menlo Ventures
“I predict we will see more women-led small businesses, like solopreneurship, side hustles, and 2-10 people businesses. I do not predict we will see a big growth in women-led business starts where initial capital investments are steeper.” —Laura N.
“In 2026, as AI agents begin to shop, compare, decide, and transact on our behalf, platforms will be forced to model experiences around the female consumer. That means understanding how women evaluate trust, value, convenience, and long-term outcomes, not just speed or price. I expect women’s influence in this area of AI to be especially powerful.” —Sophie Mann, CMO at Furnished Finder
“In 2026, we’ll see a sharp rise in women-founded, AI-native companies, and the real story will be the downstream effects: more women creating leverage and shaping markets.” —Marcy Comer, CMO of Eagleview
“The one group that is unlikely to be adversely affected by AI are non-entry-level women workers. Because women generally excel at the types of activities that AI simply cannot replicate – yet, anyway. AI is unlikely to replace jobs that demand human-centric qualities.” —Lisa Barbadora
Thank you so much for being with us in 2025. Every time you open an edition of this newsletter, forward it to a friend, post an article you found here in a Slack channel at work, share our work (and tag me!) on LinkedIn or Instagram, or send me an email with your thoughts and carefully considered perspective—it means more than you know. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Jan. 5. Have a restful, restorative holiday season. I’m looking forward to a brighter 2026 powered by all of you.
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortune’s daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Subscribe here.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
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The NWSL's new rule allows players to be paid $1 million above its salary cap. But the players' union opposed the "high-impact player rule," which is meant to compete with the global market for talent. The union says the rule is outside the league's authority and should be collectively bargained. The Athletic
A podcast I've been loving. The journalist Nayeema Raza's new show is called Smart Girl Dumb Questions. She asks the questions we all want the answers to (Is it safe to fly? Why go on reality TV?) to guests including Esther Perel, Alison Roman, Rebecca Minkoff, and many more. Listen here.
Plus, the latest episode of Fortune's Leadership Next podcast. It's with Ariane Gorin, the CEO of Expedia. She says 2026 will be "very big" for tourists in the U.S.—as long as the country makes it "welcoming." Fortune
ON MY RADAR
The era of emaciation The Cut
2025 was the year single women chose themselves British Vogue
‘You can’t always just react’: Former U.K. PM Theresa May on challenges for leaders today Bloomberg
PARTING WORDS
"Watching her operate, watching her savviness in getting her entire music catalogue back, watching how she has toured the globe while also writing an entire new album, the level at which she takes control over a lot of different aspects but also allowing people to be experts in their own right, I think that a lot of that stuff is fun to watch."
— Jason Kelce on what he's learned about business from his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Taylor Swift
