by Christine Quinlan
In a months-long collaboration with Fortune magazine, we considered hundreds of extraordinary women to find those who have had the most transformative impact in the past year. Here are the inspiring winners.
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1. Ertharin Cousin, The United Nations World Food Programme
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“I’ve visited Sudanese refugee camps in Chad and seen first-hand the important work that WFP does. Since Ertharin took charge two years ago, WFP has fed more than 177 million hungry people. She’s a big champion of 1,000 Days, an important campaign aimed at getting nutrition to children very early on, when their brains and bodies are developing most rapidly.” —Lauren Bush Lauren, cofounder of Feed
Photo © AFP / Getty Images
“I’ve visited Sudanese refugee camps in Chad and seen first-hand the important work that WFP does. Since Ertharin took charge two years ago, WFP has fed more than 177 million hungry people. She’s a big champion of 1,000 Days, an important campaign aimed at getting nutrition to children very early on, when their brains and bodies are developing most rapidly.” —Lauren Bush Lauren, cofounder of Feed
Photo © AFP / Getty Images
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2. Chellie Pingree, Congresswoman, Maine
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“We can’t expect better food policy out of Washington, DC, until we elect more leaders like my friend Chellie Pingree. As one of the only organic farmers in Congress, with more than 40 years of agriculture-policy experience, she has a unique vantage point. Through her work on the 2014 Farm Bill, she has tripled the amount of money allocated for farmers’ markets and local-food programs.” —Tom Colicchio, chef, activist and Top Chef head judge
Photo © Craig Digler/The New York Times/Redux
“We can’t expect better food policy out of Washington, DC, until we elect more leaders like my friend Chellie Pingree. As one of the only organic farmers in Congress, with more than 40 years of agriculture-policy experience, she has a unique vantage point. Through her work on the 2014 Farm Bill, she has tripled the amount of money allocated for farmers’ markets and local-food programs.” —Tom Colicchio, chef, activist and Top Chef head judge
Photo © Craig Digler/The New York Times/Redux
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3. Barbara Banke, Jackson Family Wines
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“Steve Jobs was my partner at Pixar for 25 years, and we always said that quality is the best business plan. I’ve long admired Barbara for her focus on quality at every price point. And now she’s investing in research on the health benefits of leftover grapeseeds and skins. I mix her WholeVine grapeseed flour into smoothies.” —John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney & Pixar Animation Studios; cofounder, Lasseter Family Winery
Photo © Jackson Family Wines
“Steve Jobs was my partner at Pixar for 25 years, and we always said that quality is the best business plan. I’ve long admired Barbara for her focus on quality at every price point. And now she’s investing in research on the health benefits of leftover grapeseeds and skins. I mix her WholeVine grapeseed flour into smoothies.” —John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Walt Disney & Pixar Animation Studios; cofounder, Lasseter Family Winery
Photo © Jackson Family Wines
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4. Stephanie Soechtig, Atlas Films
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“I became obsessed with childhood obesity because the statistics were so dire. So I approached Stephanie (who directed the documentary Tapped) to see if she’d do a film, and with Laurie David, we made Fed Up. Stephanie was the heart and soul of the movie. She found all of the children we followed for two years and got them to talk openly about trying to follow conventional wisdom regarding diet and exercise. And she showed why, for most of those kids, the guidelines just don’t work.”—Katie Couric, global news anchor for Yahoo!
Photo © Radius-TWC
“I became obsessed with childhood obesity because the statistics were so dire. So I approached Stephanie (who directed the documentary Tapped) to see if she’d do a film, and with Laurie David, we made Fed Up. Stephanie was the heart and soul of the movie. She found all of the children we followed for two years and got them to talk openly about trying to follow conventional wisdom regarding diet and exercise. And she showed why, for most of those kids, the guidelines just don’t work.”—Katie Couric, global news anchor for Yahoo!
Photo © Radius-TWC
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5. Judy Chan, Grace Vineyard
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As China’s interest in wine explodes, the world is watching Judy Chan. Twelve years ago, at age 24, she took charge of the winery her father cofounded, Grace Vineyard. Today, Grace makes more than two million bottles a year, with grapes like the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in its Chairman’s Reserve. “That’s my dad’s wine,” Chan says. She launched a restaurant at the winery in Shanxi, and plans to open more of them as well as wine bars: “I want to get to know my clients better, and these are good places to reach out.”
Photo © Grace Vineyard
As China’s interest in wine explodes, the world is watching Judy Chan. Twelve years ago, at age 24, she took charge of the winery her father cofounded, Grace Vineyard. Today, Grace makes more than two million bottles a year, with grapes like the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in its Chairman’s Reserve. “That’s my dad’s wine,” Chan says. She launched a restaurant at the winery in Shanxi, and plans to open more of them as well as wine bars: “I want to get to know my clients better, and these are good places to reach out.”
Photo © Grace Vineyard
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6. Liz Myslik, Fresca Foods, Inc.
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From Justin’s nut butter to 34 Degrees crackers, Fresca Foods gives natural-food companies the resources they need to grow from small indie businesses to nationally recognized names. Under Myslik’s leadership, Fresca Foods also creates new brands; her R&D team developed 50 food products last year.
Photo courtesy of Liz Mysilk; Fresca Foods
From Justin’s nut butter to 34 Degrees crackers, Fresca Foods gives natural-food companies the resources they need to grow from small indie businesses to nationally recognized names. Under Myslik’s leadership, Fresca Foods also creates new brands; her R&D team developed 50 food products last year.
Photo courtesy of Liz Mysilk; Fresca Foods
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