Methodology for Most Powerful Women Asia (2024)

Fortune published its first Most Powerful Women list in 1998 to recognize the women leading some of the world’s biggest companies in a business environment still dominated by men. That remains its purpose today. Now, 27 years after the first Most Powerful Women list was published, Fortune has expanded its reach to recognize women in one of the  fastest growing regions—Asia-Pacific. The Most Powerful Women Asia 2024 list features 100 women, redefining the concept of leadership in this diverse and dynamic region.

This year, we invited nominations for the MPW Asia 2024 list—yet a nomination is not required to be featured in the list. We consider founders, CEOs, and C-level leaders who are transforming companies, disrupting industries, and driving growth, innovation and business excellence, whilst inspiring their teams, peers, industry and the next generation of leaders. Compiling and ranking the MPW Asia list is an editorial endeavor; the team behind it takes the following five criteria into account:

1. The size of an executive’s business

We consider how much revenue the executive oversees, the size of her workforce, and the geographic reach of her remit. Fortune only considers executives who have an active role at for-profit companies and are based in the Asia-Pacific region.

We consider how an executive’s business is performing; if it’s thriving under her leadership (generating revenue and profit growth, innovating, hiring workers, entering new markets) or if it’s struggling (recording losses, laying off employees, facing legal battles). 

2. Strategic vision

We consider the leader’s ability to set a strategic direction, lead effectively, and achieve positive results for her organization.

3. Driving innovation, investments, and disruption

We consider how and if the executive is disrupting business models or processes, leading breakthrough achievements in productivity and research; and/or driving business transformation, innovations, and investments.

4. Influence on her organization, industry and the economy

We consider the executive’s influence and impact on her organization, industry, and the economy; this may include job creation, industry change, and contributions to the broader economy.

5. Reputation and impact

We consider how the executive is using her public platform and considerable resources; if she is taking aim at societal harms, supporting her workforce, or creating positive impact on local and disadvantaged communities around her. 

Head writers
Clay Chandler and Nicholas Gordon

Contributors
Claire Zillman, Yvonne Xie, Lionel Lim, and Rachel Chia. Research was conducted by Kylie Loo, Bella Lek, and Wilfred Chua under the direction of Asia List Director, Ashleigh Nghiem.