The world of finance and economy isn’t the old boys club it used to be. Today, women are not only active participants in the markets, but key decision makers that influence everything from monetary policy to geopolitics. Below we look at five of the most powerful women in the world of finance.

Janet Yellen, Chair of the United States Federal Reserve

Janet Yellen was appointed to Chair of the Federal Reserve in 2014, making her the first woman to ever hold the post. The Fed Chair is widely regarded as the second-most powerful person in the United States, behind only the president. After years of quantitative easing and rock-bottom interest rates, Yellen is leading the Fed back toward policy normalization. But the process is expected to be slow as the US economy continues to contends with domestic and global headwinds.

Yellen will make headlines in November and December when she announces the Fed’s final policy decisions of the year. The markets are anticipating at least one rate increase before year-end.

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Presidential Nominee

Hillary Clinton is the first female major-party presidential candidate in US history,[1]which automatically makes her one of the most powerful people in the world of finance and economy.  Clinton has already outlined her position on free trade, jobs and taxation, and has also talked about the role of the Federal Reserve. If she wins the White House on November 8, she will instantly become the most powerful woman in the world.

Clinton has also gone after the pharmaceutical industry for its apparent price gauging for prescription drugs. This could make for volatile trading conditions in the healthcare sector should Clinton succeed in her election bid next month.

Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Theresa May replaced David Cameron as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July, as the Conservative party sought a fresh start following Britain’s shocking decision to leave the European Union. As leader one of the world’s biggest economies, Theresa May wields tremendous influence on economic policy, trade and geopolitics. May’s recent comments about pursuing a “hard Brexit” sent the British pound tumbling and triggered volatility in the global financial markets.