In 2021, we had the privilege of launching a first-of-its-kind Forbes list: the 50 Over 50, a list dedicated to highlighting women over the age of 50 who are shattering age and gender norms across all sectors of the American economy and culture.
Produced in partnership with Morning Joe cohost Mika Brzezinski and her Know Your Value initiative, the 50 Over 50 is a collection of women who reject the conventional wisdom that their best years are behind them. They’re leading a movement: We received more than 10,000 submissions for the initial list of 50 people.
What started as one list soon expanded into two, three and four, thanks to focused looks at women wielding their influence in politics and social entrepreneurship, STEM and the arts, finance and beyond. In early 2022, we went global, launching the 50 Over 50: Asia and 50 Over 50: EMEA (for women in Europe, the Middle East and Africa).
We repeated the process in 2023 and now, we’re looking to do it for a fourth year in a row. Only this year, we’re doing something a little different with our international lists: instead of doing separate lists by region, we’re going to publish ONE global list featuring women around the world. That’s right: We’re looking for women in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central America.
It’s going to be the biggest 50 Over 50 list yet.
Though the year and format is (a little) different, the criteria we’re looking for remains the same: Women who are actively stepping into their power in their sixth decade or beyond. We’re looking for stories about accelerating or recreating careers to reach the highest echelons of a business or field after turning 50—with an eye on women who have overcome significant odds.
Take, for instance, 61-year-old Falguni Nayar: Based in India, Nayar spent the first two decades of her career working as an investment banker, leading IPOs and helping other entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. In 2012, she decided to work for herself, investing $2 million of her own savings to launch beauty and retail company Nykaa. In 2021, Nayar took Nykaa public at a $13 billion valuation, and the transaction made Nayar India’s richest self-made woman.
Or consider Christine Lagarde, who is now 68. In 2011, at 55, she was the first woman appointed to run the International Monetary Fund. In 2019, she became the first female president of the European Central Bank, a role that puts her in charge of the monetary policy that affects Europe’s nearly 750 million citizens.
Do these stories describe you, or someone you know? Nominate them for the 50 Over 50 Global list today. Full nomination guidelines are below and you can reference the 2024 50 Over 50 EMEA and Asia lists are here and here.