Fortune Spotlights Asia’s 10 Most Influential Women Shaping Culture, Science, and Sport

Fortune has unveiled its list of 10 influential women to watch across Asia for 2026, showcasing trailblazers who are redefining global standards beyond traditional corporate boardrooms. The cohort highlights leaders making groundbreaking contributions across athletics, aerospace, culinary arts, cinema, conservation, and technology governance, illustrating the expanding geopolitical and cultural reach of women throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Key sporting milestones anchor the list, led by South Korean badminton star An Se-young, who secured a second world championship alongside an Asian Games gold medal while conceding only one defeat in 57 matches. In tennis, Alexandra Eala became the first Filipino player to capture a WTA Tour singles title in Washington, D.C., simultaneously breaking into the world top 20. In science, former Hong Kong Police superintendent Dr. Lai Ka-ying joined the Shenzhou-23 mission to the Tiangong space station as China’s first female payload specialist, marking a historic achievement for Hong Kong.

Cultural and environmental champions also gained prominent recognition. Japanese actress Tao Okamoto made history as the first Japanese woman to win the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress prize for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s 'All of a Sudden.' Indonesian conservationist Farwiza Farhan received the Whitley Gold Award for her grassroots defense of Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem through her organization HAkA, while Taiwanese screen icon Shu Qi successfully pivoted to directing with her critically lauded feature debut 'Girl.' In gastronomy, Chef Cho Eun-hee propelled Seoul’s Michelin-starred Onjium to international prestige with Joseon royal court cuisine.

The rankings emphasize strategic institutional influence alongside individual excellence. In Malaysia, former AirAsia chief executive Aireen Omar was appointed inaugural chair of AI Malaysia, tasked with directing the National AI Action Plan through 2030 amid the country's rise as a semiconductor and data center hub. Concurrently, Singaporean philanthropist Chloe Tong mobilized anti-bullying initiatives via the ACE Team Foundation, reflecting how cross-sectoral leadership is addressing emerging technological and civic priorities across the continent.