This year’s Ad Age Leading Women are taking businesses, brands and agencies into a brave new post-pandemic era, in which the world has changed irrevocably. Our first ever global Leading Women list includes women who are pioneering new technologies, driving brands forward in reaction to social and environmental concerns or tapping into popular culture to target fresh audiences.

For example, one of our honorees is building an electric car brand from scratch in a fiercely competitive market. Another is reinventing a well-known apparel brand by tapping into key cultural moments on TikTok and in Minecraft; and another is tackling taboos in body care with humor.

These honorees range from those who have global roles to those focused on local issues. Our honorees' challenges also reflect the tumultuous world we live in; one of our honorees is currently facing life away from home and work having left Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. Another is fighting for more gender equality in India, where women's rights lag behind despite it being the world's largest democracy.

All of our Leading Women are also striving to empower women and improve diversity.  Among them are Ad Age’s first transgender Leading Woman, who has played a critical role in creating company guidelines to support transitioning employees. There is an agency executive based in the United Arab Emirates who has lobbied for better maternity rights for women there. And a former marketing manager who founded a billion-dollar private women’s network despite naysayers initially questioning whether women would actually join.

As well as representing inspiring brands and agencies, these women also have their own amazing personal stories; among them, there is a former athlete who trained for the Olympics, a rocketship designer, a chef, a theme park creator with a masters in theater and a board member for the American Association of People with Disabilities.

We honor the Ad Age Leading Women of 2022 and we hope this list will inspire the women of our industry to celebrate each other. Mark your calendar for Aug. 9, when we will host our Ad Age Leading Women Conference & Awards in New York.

Buy tickets to the Ad Age Leading Women Conference & Awards at AdAge.com/LW2022.