Leena Nair

After a three-decade-long career at Unilever, where she was the youngest female chief human resources officer, Leena Nair became the global CEO of luxury juggernaut Chanel in 2021—the first woman of color to become chief. She is also among the few women of color leading a global luxury brand. The 115-year-old family-controlled Chanel has bucked the luxury slowdown affecting its rivals by delivering a 16% increase in revenues in 2023, worth $20 billion. The company is committed to R&D innovation, such as its anti-aging line of products, and has said it “relentlessly pursues counterfeiters” who mimic the French label’s signature luxury goods. Early in her tenure, Nair increased the funding of Chanel’s charity, Fondation Chanel, to $100 million to support women's and girls' safety and economic autonomy.