In this issue

MOST POWERFUL WOMEN
CEO MELANIE PERKINS BUILT VISUAL-DESIGN PLATFORM
CANVA INTO A $26 BILLION STARTUP. NOW SHE’S READY TO
TAKE ON ADOBE, MICROSOFT, AND GOOGLE.

Melinda French Gates:
Tearing Down Barriers The philanthropist has long advocated for women globally.
But post-Roe, she’s sharpening her focus on inequity at home.
BY MICHAL LEV-RAM

Her Design Startup Wants to Disrupt Your Desktop
Melanie Perkins built Canva into the world’s most valuable woman-led startup. Her next mission may be tougher still. BY EMMA HINCHLIFFE

#MeToo. Five Years Later - A special edition of 'The Conversation'

On Oct. 5, 2017, the New York Times broke the Harvey Weinstein story, igniting a global conversation about sexual harassment. In its aftermath, more women started to tell their own stories in ways both big and small, by going to the press to expose their harassers, or simply by writing #MeToo on social media-and often their voices helped push the culprits out of their jobs. Five years later, we spoke with women who played a part in the movement to take stock of how society has-and hasn't-changed.

9 mins

THE ESG DEBATE: 'Woke Investing' Isn't Going Away

The ESG label has taken on toxic overtones in American politics. But banks and business leaders are increasingly investing sustainably for bottom-line reasons, not ideological ones.

4 mins

Merging Toward the Mainstream

Ethereum's Merge tackled its pollution problem. But widespread adoption is no sure thing.

4 mins

E-Bike Backlash

The rise of electric bicycles is sparking criticism of their potential danger to pedestrians and traditional cyclists.

5 mins

Why Families Need Strong Hometowns

Community resources are critical lifelines when caring for kids-and aging parents.

4 mins

Larry Summers Is Still Afraid

From his Oriental rug-lined, book-filled home in Brookline, Mass., Larry Summers told Fortune unemployment and interest rates need to spike much higher than many are suggesting to save the economy from prolonged pain. He hopes he's wrong-but he's pretty sure he's not.

9 mins

Fortune Most Powerful Women

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Most Powerful Women list. It also happens to be the most competitive in this ranking's history. Rather than compile separate international and domestic versions as we've done in some form since 2000, we combined our candidates to come up with one definitive list-a more accurate reflection of the global nature of business today. That meant fewer spots, even as the world hit a record-high number of female Global 500 CEOs. The result: All the women on this list either are CEOs or very likely will be either at their current company or a competitor.

10+ mins

Her Design Startup Wants to Disrupt Your Desktop

Against the odds, Australian Melanie Perkins, 35, built Canva into the most valuable startup founded and run by a woman. The $26 billion graphic design platform's next mission may be even tougher: displacing Adobe and Microsoft Office in the workplace.

10+ mins

Can Zara Be Fast. Cheap and Green?

Lightning-quick product releases and low prices propelled Zara to the top of the fashion industry. But the climate costs of "fast fashion" have become impossible to ignore. It will be up to Marta Ortega, the new head of Zara's parent company, to thread the needle.

10+ mins

Tearing Down 'Barriers That Hold Women Back'

Melinda French Gates has long advocated for women on a global level. But the rollback of reproductive rights in the U.S. is sharpening her focus on gender equity at home-and adding fuel to the fire for Pivotal Ventures, her ambitious investment company.

10+ mins

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Fortune US Magazine Description:

FORTUNE covers the entire field of business, including specific companies and business trends, tech innovation prominent business leaders, and new ideas shaping the global marketplace. FORTUNE is particularly well known for its exceptionally reliable annual rankings of companies. FORTUNE furthers understanding of the economy, provides implementable business strategy, and gives you the practical knowledge you need to maximize your own success.