Patricia Barbizet

Barbizet caught the world’s attention when she was named the first female boss of luxury auction house Christie’s in 2014, but shrinking profits and an exodus of top staff has cast a shadow over the 250-year-old business. A lackluster contemporary art market has hammered Christie’s sales, down 29%, to $3 billion, in the first half of 2016. But Barbizet, an opera buff, is pivoting to online art sales—a booming segment. She also remains CEO of Artémis, the Pinault family’s holding company, with assets worth $31 billion, and vice chair of his luxury empire Kering, whose portfolio includes Gucci and Saint Laurent.