Latest news with #AlysonShontell
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
‘It's a no-brainer to go where the progress is,' Fortune editor-in-chief tells Arab News ahead of Riyadh summit on women in business
RIYADH: The Fortune Most Powerful Women franchise, which includes an annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women, began in 1998. Now, nearly three decades on, the publication is entering the Middle East region with the Fortune Most Powerful Women International conference in Riyadh on May 20 and 21. 'More and more women were getting into the upper ranks of business,' and 'we wanted to be on the ground covering it,' said Alyson Shontell, editor-in-chief and chief content officer of Fortune. 'There's no more exciting place for us to be right now (than Saudi Arabia) covering the world of business and women's progress,' she added. Despite reforms and transformation in the region, some still view it as a place with restricted freedom for women and media. However, Shontell is 'excited to go in judgment-free,' and connect with women in the region and 'show what they're doing to the world,' she said. The transformation in the Kingdom since Vision 2030 has been 'remarkable' and, she added, 'we want to see it for ourselves and show it to the world. 'It's a no-brainer to go where the progress is: the Middle East.' Fortune's ambition is 'to connect global power and the biggest businesses in the world,' and so 'we would love to build the most powerful women's network into a global network,' through which women in the Middle East feel connected to women in other parts of the world, she explained. This year, 11 percent of Fortune 500 companies are run by women, which is the highest number it has ever been, Shontell said. There is still a long way ahead before gender equality is reached in businesses, but 'that's a big reason why we think it's still important to show the changing evolution of power,' she said. Last year, Fortune also published a Most Powerful People list — 'to recognize powerful people as powerful people' — and that list was dominated by men. 'That's how the world is, and we're not going to pretend that it's otherwise,' Shontell said, adding that it is part of Fortune's mission to track progress, present the world as it is, and when there are changes, to showcase them as well. At the beginning of this year, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his second day in office calling titled 'Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.' He has issued multiple orders since then aimed at rolling back the diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI) policies of major corporations, foundations, non-profits, educational institutions and even the government. One order, which deems DEI policies 'illegal,' suggests that these policies are a 'guise' for 'dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences.' The directives have raised several concerns, some around women's participation in the workforce. Shontell, however, remains optimistic. 'There's a pretty strong commitment from women in the United States,' she said. 'We have made a lot of progress over the last 50 years here, and I don't think many people would like to see that backslide.' Shontell herself has been part of that commitment. She joined Business Insider in 2008, as the company's sixth employee going on to become editor-in-chief in 2016. When she was appointed as editor-in-chief at Fortune in 2021, she became the youngest and only woman to serve in that role in the company's 95 years. 'When you think of who the editor-in-chief of Fortune, or even Business Insider, is, you don't think of a young woman,' Shontell said. To illustrate her point, she said that even if one asked AI what it thought the editor of a business magazine looks like, it would draw up someone like JPMorgan Chase chairman and CEO, Jamie Dimon. And she was right. We asked Meta AI and ChatGPT: 'Can you generate an image of the editor-in-chief of a major global business publication?' The former gave us four images: one of a woman and three of men, while the latter gave a single image featuring a man. The most common reaction Shontell receives is surprise. But she doesn't mind. Rather, she likes surprising people and the feeling that 'no one sees you coming.' It 'kind of gives you something to work toward something to be extra proud of when you achieve it,' she said. For Shontell, the industry has been nothing but change since she stepped into it, which was well after the days of leisurely business lunches and thick magazines, she says. 'A lot of the trends that we're seeing now are just completely different than they were before,' and much of the conversation in the newsroom is around future-proofing the company, she said. The key, according to her, is a flexible team and the knack to recognize trends and understand which ones are here to stay. When she was at Business Insider, her goal was to get everyone to read it. Fortune, on the other hand, is not about scale. 'My goal is to continue to up our relevance and to broaden the audience just a little bit, but to keep it very much thought leadership,' she said. Shontell explained that it is hard to run a company in a fast-changing and unpredictable world, and so, the question is: 'How can we be the best asset for this global leadership reader?' The aim is to 'give them the information they need to do their jobs through the best of their abilities, so that the rest of us can all benefit from them making better decisions.' Fortune was relatively slow to embrace digital media with its website only launching in 2014. By the end of 2024, it had 24 million global users, and its social channels have a total of 7 million followers. From the archives: Streaming warriors. In our October 2019 issue, Fortune spotlighted the powerhouse women steering Netflix into its most competitive era yet. — FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) May 18, 2025 Still, not many younger audiences are aware of the brand or consume its content. Shontell admits that while Fortune has been very good at reaching C-suite audiences, 'we have increasingly been bad at reaching the next generation and pulling them up through their career path.' But now, with social media, she says 'we have permission to show up differently on different platforms' to reach a potential reader. That means speaking in a different tone of voice perhaps to reach GenZs and millennials on platforms like TikTok, which would be 'their first experience with us,' she said. It is a 'delicate balance' of 'how do you get that next gen reader so that Fortune will continue to exist and be read and widely known in 20 years, and how do you maintain that thought leadership at the same time?' As part of this effort, Fortune is reinventing its video offering this year and launching podcasts. Artificial intelligence is at the core of technology and any conversation about it, and undoubtedly is an 'incredibly powerful tool,' said Shontell. Despite the dangers of AI — fake news, misinformation, deepfakes — and concerns about potential job losses, Shontell believes AI will bring journalism back to its roots. Any news or information that can be rounded up and aggregated does not need humans and will be done by AI, but that is an 'exciting opportunity, because it will bring journalism back to its core roots of seeking original information and facts and bringing it to readers first with the best analysis (and) the best new information that you can get,' she said. Shontell says that in the last decade or so, the news media industry has almost lost its way, partly because the business model is predicated on cutting through noise and grabbing attention, instead of delivering news in a way that is aligned with the news company's specific approach. There will be 'hard change,' and news firms can either be a big publication with scale and a 'solid' business model like The New York Times or Bloomberg, or a smaller, niche publication; anything in the 'messy middle' will have a difficult time, she said.
Leaders
28-03-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Riyadh to Host Fortune's Inaugural Most Powerful Women International Summit
Fortune has announced its first Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit that will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 20-21 May, 2025. This marks the first international summit in the region focused on female leadership. The Fortune Most Powerful Women community includes top leaders from various industries and governments worldwide. Renowned for its agenda-setting discussions, the Summit will address key forces shaping the global business landscape. Additionally, it will explore how public and private sectors can collaborate to enhance innovation and growth. Attendees will discuss pressing topics, including crisis leadership, adapting to economic shifts, scaling emerging technologies, and uncovering new opportunities in investing and healthcare. They will also examine the evolving businesses in sports, entertainment, and design. A Step Towards Vision 2030 Fortune is hosting this summit in Saudi Arabia to align with the country's Vision 2030 objectives, focusing on investing in growth, innovation, and women's progress in both business and society. As a result, the women's workforce participation rate has increased to 36%, more than doubled from 17% in 2017. Furthermore, Saudi women now own 45% of the nation's small and medium-sized businesses, significantly contributing to the economy's entrepreneurial development. Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit will grant global leaders access to this burgeoning market. This event aims to foster partnership opportunities and expand the global community. 'Fortune strives to be at the center of new frontiers in global business, and Saudi Arabia is one of those places,' said Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, CEO of Fortune. 'It's an ideal time to gather the world's most influential women in Riyadh to inspire, connect, and drive progress.' Alyson Shontell, Editor in Chief of Fortune, emphasized the significance of Saudi Arabia's impact on the global economy in her piece titled 'Why Fortune MPW is Going Global.' She highlighted Fortune's commitment to fostering progress through authoritative journalism. 'Given Saudi Arabia's recent acceleration, especially for women, we are excited to document the progress there too.' Celebrating Inspirational Leadership On 20 May, Fortune will reveal its renowned 100 Most Powerful Women in Business list. Now in its 28th year, this list honors global female leaders who drive innovation across numerous sectors, including finance, technology, healthcare, telecom, retail, and energy. The 2024 edition recognized leaders from 19 countries and territories, with over half serving as CEOs of Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies. The Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit will partner with the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA). Fortune is a global media company known for its trusted reporting and information that aims to improve business practices. As an independently owned entity, Fortune tells the stories of significant companies and emerging innovators alike. Its iconic rankings include the Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World's Most Admired Companies. Short link :
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fortune to Host First Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20-21, 2025
Fortune to unveil the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business list on May 20 The Most Powerful Women International Summit will convene the world's top women leaders to explore "A New Era for Business: Partnering for Global Prosperity" NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ -- Fortune announced today that the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit will convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 20-21, 2025, marking the first international summit in the region for the female leadership franchise. Fortune Most Powerful Women is an invitation-only community of top leaders from a wide range of industries and governments around the world. Known for its agenda-setting conversations, the Most Powerful Women International Summit's global program will examine key forces shaping the worldwide business landscape and, specifically, how the public and private sectors can partner to supercharge innovation and growth. Other topics will include assessing global leadership in crisis, navigating economic shifts and their business impacts, deploying emerging technologies at scale, and exploring new opportunities across investing and health care, as well as how the businesses of sports, entertainment, and design are evolving. Fortune is convening the community in Saudi Arabia, where as part of Vision 2030, the country is investing in growth, innovation, and the progress of women in both business and society. As a result of that roadmap, the workforce participation rate for women is up to 36%, more than doubling from 17% in 2017. Saudi women now own 45% of the country's small and medium-sized businesses, contributing to the entrepreneurial development of the economy. Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Riyadh will provide global leaders access to this burgeoning market, creating partnership opportunities and extending the global community. "Fortune strives to be at the center of new frontiers of global business, and Saudi Arabia is one of those places," said Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, CEO of Fortune. "It's an opportune time to convene, in Riyadh, some of the world's most influential and innovative women to inspire, connect, and drive meaningful progress across global businesses and global governments. Fortune's Most Powerful Women events have done so for nearly three decades. Now it is time to tap into the dynamic Riyadh hub for our first women's summit in the Middle East." Alyson Shontell, Editor in Chief of Fortune, writing in Fortune's MPW Daily newsletter recently, in a piece entitled "Why Fortune MPW is Going Global," points to Saudi Arabia's meaningful impact on the global economy, which led to Fortune's decision to hold important events there: "At Fortune, the purpose of our journalism is to make business better and to serve as a powerful, authoritative voice pressing for progress. Given Saudi Arabia's recent acceleration, particularly for women, we are excited to get closer to the action and document the progress there, too." Additionally, on May 20, Fortune will unveil its iconic 100 Most Powerful Women in Business list. Now in its 28th year, the list recognizes global female trailblazers who drive innovation and shape the future across industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, telecom, retail, and energy. The 2024 edition featured leaders from 19 countries and territories across 14 sectors, with over half of the list serving as CEOs—primarily of Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies. The Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit will be presented in partnership with the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA). About Fortune: Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world's biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World's Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum, Brainstorm Tech, and Fortune Most Powerful Women. For more information, visit Media Contacts: Patrick Reilly Fortune Chelsea Hudson Fortune Malek AbdelrahmanAPCO Saudi Arabiamabdelrahman@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fortune Media (USA) Corporation View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
TCS Named Among the World's Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® for 2025
NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, February 20, 2025 /3BL/ - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has been included in Fortune® Magazine's 2025 list of the World's Most Admired CompaniesTM. This recognition underscores TCS' ability to deliver long-term value through client-focused innovation, foster a strong, people-first culture, and advance its AI and next-generation capabilities. Widely regarded as a benchmark for corporate reputation, the Fortune® World's Most Admired CompaniesTM list is based on a comprehensive survey of more than 3,300 top executives and directors from eligible companies, as well as financial analysts, who evaluated 650 companies across industries. For over two decades, Fortune has partnered with Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm, to compile the annual ranking. Organizations are assessed on key attributes such as innovation, effectiveness in conducting business globally, ability to attract, develop and retain talent, and responsibility to the community and environment. Alyson Shontell, Fortune Editor in Chief, said, 'Fortune is proud to recognize all the companies on this year's World's Most Admired Companies list. Their ability to consistently earn this recognition is truly impressive and a testament to their high standards, resilience, and vision in a challenging global business environment.' A key factor behind this success is the TCS Pace™ innovation ecosystem, which uses TCS' unique methodologies, global insights, research, intellectual property, and its Co-Innovation Network TM(COIN™), which brings together clients, partners, startups, and academia to co-develop next-generation solutions. The recent expansion of TCS Pace Port™ centers in London, Paris, and Stockholm; taking the total number of facilities to 12; further strengthens this collaborative approach, accelerating breakthroughs in AI, robotics, and emerging technologies. Amit Bajaj, President, North America, TCS, said, 'This recognition underscores TCS' commitment to innovation and client-centricity, ability to attract and retain top talent, and proven track record of enabling high-value business transformation for our customers. As businesses face constant disruption, we empower them to become perpetually adaptive enterprises, helping them harness technology to drive long-term growth and resilience.' Beyond digital innovation, TCS is driving sustainability through initiatives such as digital twin technology, which helps reduce carbon emissions in industrial and commercial operations. Its collaboration with Rolls-Royce in developing the world's first hydrogen-powered aircraft engine reinforces its commitment to building a more sustainable future. In an era marked by rapid technological shifts, supply chain disruptions, evolving consumer expectations, businesses must continuously innovate and adapt to stay ahead. TCS partners with leading enterprises to navigate these complexities, leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, automation, and advanced computing to drive growth and resilience. Its recognition on Fortune's list, alongside many of its clients, underscores its role as a strategic enabler of business transformation. TCS' recognition also highlights its commitment to a people-first approach. This year, TCS achieved a significant milestone by receiving its first-ever Enterprise-Wide Top Employer Certification from the Top Employers Institute, a global authority on excellence in people practices. This prestigious honor is awarded to a select few organizations that demonstrate consistent excellence in workplace practices across all key regions. Additionally, TCS was named a Global Top Employer for 2025, marking a decade of receiving this distinction. This strong foundation enables TCS to attract and retain top talent while ensuring that its workforce remains a key driver of innovation and business success. The organization places a strong emphasis on employee satisfaction and is committed to building an AI-ready workforce through skilling initiatives. TCS' leadership in IT services has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and market rankings. Earlier this year, the organization's brand value surpassed $20 billion, making it only the second global IT services company to achieve this milestone, according to Brand Finance's 2025 IT Services Rankings. About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world's largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 56 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development. A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 607,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit TCS media contacts:
