Christina Zhu

A former McKinsey consultant and Columbia Business School graduate, Christina Zhu became the first woman to lead Walmart China in 2020—and has turned one of the world's most competitive retail markets into a bright spot for a global giant navigating an increasingly fraught U.S.-China relationship. Under her leadership, Walmart China's sales hit $24 billion in its most recent fiscal year, growing 20.7% last quarter, versus 4.7% for the company as a whole, even amid sluggish China retail sales. The engine is Sam's Club, with 10.7 million members and 13 new clubs opening this year; online sales now make up 55% of Walmart China's total. "I only have one boss, and my boss is the Chinese customer," Zhu said at the Fortune Leaders Forum in September.