When TIME — American news magazine — first created its 100 most influential people in the world in 1999, the key quality that the editors focused on was not popularity, nor power, but influence. At the time, influence was usually associated with hard power, such as people who attained their position through a very visible display of power. US President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Maragaret Thatcher were among the first to be listed, along with other notable politicians. But in 2007, managing editor Richard Stengel came to the realization that the soft power of ideas, of voice, of talent, and of example can also shape the world. There are those who are in positions that are quite heavy-handed, and others who are in positions where they need to bring people together. But sometimes, and especially today, there are those who can influence simply by showcasing their authentic and real human experiences; the fragile process of coming to see and understand oneself. With the idea of influence changing, women’s leadership and influence is also changing. In the past, discussions around gender equality and women’s leadership focused on “breaking glass…
