Tune in all day for coverage of the 2026 CNBC Changemakers
The third annual CNBC Changemakers list of women transforming business and philanthropy, which launched on Wednesday, recognizes leaders at the forefront of AI and innovators across traditional fields, from finance to healthcare, retail, entertainment and sports.
The 2026 Changemakers range from startup founders to high-profile stars such as Kim Kardashian, who grew Skims to a $5 billion valuation with a big Nike
partnership, and Selena Gomez, whose Rare Beauty has been valued by outside sources at close to $3 billion and includes a philanthropic organization tackling mental health issues.
AI is a key trend on this year’s list, with a range of female leaders innovating the fundamental technology and its applications. Mira Murati, former OpenAI chief technology officer, launched Thinking Machines Lab to push the boundaries of next-generation AI. Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, expanded autonomous driving into new cities and forged multiple transportation partnerships. Applying AI to fixing the foster care system, Binti CEO Felicia Curcuru launched responsible AI tools for social services in collaboration with Anthropic.
