Mia Mottley Named in Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women

Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been named one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025. The magazine’s annual list recognises female leaders who shape global systems in politics, finance, technology, and culture. Mottley was highlighted for her influence on climate policy and her role in reshaping Barbados’ constitutional future.

Mottley became the first woman to serve as prime minister when she was elected in 2018. Since then, she has emerged as a leading international voice on climate justice. In 2021, she delivered a forceful address to the United Nations General Assembly calling for urgent global action. The United Nations Environment Programme later named her a “Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership.”

Under Mottley’s leadership, Barbados became a parliamentary republic in November 2021. The country removed the British monarch as head of state and signalled a new era of constitutional independence.

Forbes notes that the women on this year’s list “command a collective $37 trillion in economic power and influence more than 1 billion people.” It stated that these leaders “are steering the systems that will define the next decade.”

Mottley has also built a reputation for bold regional leadership. She has publicly defended Caribbean autonomy, even stating she was prepared to risk her US visa over Barbados’ health cooperation with Cuba, and has taken firm positions in negotiations with Washington on issues affecting CARICOM states. Her government is also among the first to implement the new free movement regime with Belize and three other states to strengthen regional integration and economic mobility in the Caribbean.

Mottley was recognised alongside leading figures in global politics, finance, technology, and culture. The 2025 list includes Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, musicians Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Skims co-founder Kim Kardashian, and the women behind KPOP Demon Hunters. The animated film about a K-Pop girl group has been streamed more than 325 million times this month and is now Netflix’s most-watched film of all time.