Earlier this week, I asked for your predictions for 2026 on a variety of questions, from women reimagining corporate America to the ongoing impact of AI. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in their opinions. Although you are realistic about the challenges ahead, you remain bullish about women's ability to overcome challenges, make change, and deliver real results. Here's what you're looking forward to in the new year.
“Companies that fail to substantively advance women into substantive decision-making roles in 2026 risk tangible economic consequences. The companies that succeed next year and beyond will be those that treat the advancement of women not as a statement of values, but as operational infrastructure tied to accountability, incentives and results.” —Michelle Carnahan, Arbiter Co-Founder and CEO
“Historically, women have excelled in connective tissue roles such as COO, strategy, and planning. By 2026, these operational roles will be the primary players in the CEO position (as AI automates routine tasks, orchestrates complex systems, and accelerates speed will be the most valuable skills for leaders). This will fundamentally change the path to the top.” —Eléonore Crespo, Pigment Co-Founder and Co-CEO
“We don't expect the proportion of female founders to increase significantly in 2026. We haven't yet seen a shift in the dynamics that will cause that change. Ultimately vision and execution matter most, but competition from companies backed by significantly larger rounds will make the climb even steeper.” —Nicole Leib, Vice President of Human Resources and Head of Global Inclusion, monday.com
“We expect to see more female-led small businesses, including solo start-ups, side hustles, and businesses with 2 to 10 people. We do not expect to see much growth in female-led entrepreneurship, which requires higher initial capital investments.” —Laura N.
“In 2026, AI agents will shop, compare, decide, and transact on our behalf, forcing platforms to model experiences around female consumers. This means understanding how women value not just speed and price, but also trust, value, convenience, and long-term outcomes. I expect women's influence in this area of AI to be particularly strong.” —Sophie Mann, Furnished Finder CMO
“In 2026, there will be a proliferation of AI-native companies founded by women. And the real story will be the downstream impact. More women will create leverage and shape markets.” —Marcy Comer, Eagleview CMO
“The only group that is less likely to be negatively affected by AI is entry-level female workers, because women generally excel at the kinds of activities that AI simply cannot replicate, anyway. AI is unlikely to replace jobs that require human-centered qualities.” —Lisa Barbadora
Thank you for your continued support in 2025. Every time you open an edition of this newsletter, forward it to a friend, post an article you find here to your work Slack channel, share our work on LinkedIn or Instagram (and tag me!), or email me your thoughts and carefully considered points of view, it means more than you know. It will be back in your inbox on January 5th. Have a restful and rejuvenating holiday season. With your cooperation, we look forward to a brighter year in 2026.
emma hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
The “Most Powerful Women Daily” newsletter is luck'A daily briefing for and about the women leading the world of business. Subscribe here.
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parting words
“I think a lot of it is fun to watch, to see what she's been doing, to see how smart she is in bringing back her entire music catalog, to see how she's toured the world while writing an entire new album, and the level at which she's able to control so many different aspects yet still allow people to be experts in their own.”
— Jason Kelce on what he learned about business from his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Taylor Swift
