The World’s Most Powerful Women: May 4

Good morning, WMPW readers! Isabelle Kocher has become the only CEO of a CAC40 company, New Zealand’s Helen Clark has launched her bid for the UN’s top job, and Adele makes yet another list of powerful people. Need to spread some news about a powerful woman? Get in touch, at: [email protected] or @laurascohn. Enjoy your Wednesday!

THE BIG STORY

French woman cracks CAC40 ceiling

French energy exec Isabelle Kocher has just been annointed CEO of Engie, making her the only woman to head a company in the benchmark CAC40 stock index. Before her promotion, Kocher was deputy to former chief Gerard Mestrallet and also served as CFO. While the number of female CEOs in Europe has edged up a bit in recent years, it is still relatively rare. Kocher, one of Coins2Day's Most Powerful Women, is the first woman to head a CAC40 firm since Patricia Russo led Alcatel-Lucent eight years ago. Kocher is well known in the business community, and the French press says her early moves will be watched closely.Bloomberg

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Adele, powerful mum

A list of the 50 Most Powerful Moms is out, and it includes a number of names well known by regular readers of WMPW. Naturally, the roster includes Adele, Beyonce, and Chelsea Clinton. But it also features members of Coins2Day's Most Powerful Women, such as Abigail Johnson, Sheryl Sandberg, and Margarita Louis-Dreyfus.

Time

Silicon Valley of Africa

Tunisian entrepreneur Leila Ben Gacem is trying to breathe life back into her country's economy by hiring artists and designers for her company Blue Fish, a consultancy that helps small creative businesses market and brand themselves. Despite a challenging geopolitical and economic environment, Tunis has been called the "Silicon Valley of Africa."

New York Times

Calling the nanny state

Has the workplace become less friendly for pregnant women and new mothers in the U.K.? A new study says such women increasingly face discriminatory practices such as reduced hours and the termination of contracts.

BBC

ASIA-PACIFIC

Shooting for the top job

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark launched her bid to become the first woman to lead the United Nations by talking about gender. Clark, one of four women up for secretary general, said she "never asked for supporters because I'm a woman." Clark is expected to travel to each of the five countries on the UN Security Council to promote her campaign.

Guardian

Spreading goodwill

In other UN news, Australian actress Cate Blanchett was named a goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency. Blanchett joins a list of Hollywood female stars, such as Mira Sorvino, Angelina Jolie, and Emma Watson, who've held such positions.

Guardian

THE AMERICAS

Carly Fiorina sets a record

Now that Ted Cruz has exited the U.S. Presidential race, Carly Fiorina has set a record, albeit of a dubious sort. She just wrapped up the shortest vice presidential run in U.S. History.

Washington Post

A serious FLOTUS?

In the latest profile of Melania Trump , The New Yorker reports the potential First Lady is "privately pleasant," but never cracks a joke about her husband. Instead, she is loyal to a tee. Of his famous hairdo, she has said, "I like him the way he is."

New Yorker

Flexibility that built an empire

When Stella & Dot CEO Jessica Herrin started her company 13 years ago (while pregnant), she says her main goal was to create an "opportunity for women that was more flexible." Inspired by makeup company Mary Kay, Herrin has turned the accessories company into a multi-million dollar business. She has achieved her goal—and then some.

CBS

Apres un bebe

A new job marketplace called "Apres" is aimed at women who are re-entering the workforce after having a baby. The site, cofounded by Jennifer Gefsky and Niccole Kroll, is expected to launch today.

Fast Company