The World’s Most Powerful Women: June 10

Along with the White House, another sphere of global power may get its first female leader this fall: the United Nations.

The current slate of candidates to replace Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has five women and six men. The women are: Susana Malcorra, the foreign minister of Argentina; Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian head of UNESCO; Helen Clark, former New Zealand PM; former Moldovan Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman; and Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic.

The UN has come under pressure to select a woman as its secretary general since the presidents of its General Assembly and Security Council urged the nomination of female candidates. Member nations back the idea.

Unlike the U.S. Presidential race, there aren’t polls that track who’s ahead. But a story in the Financial Times says Malcorra is favored by the U.S. And Bokova is backed by Russia. The piece also calls the post “the most impossible job in the world.” But that’s a characterization it’s earned with only men holding the position. If that’s how people think of it, it’s time to let a woman have a shot.

Enjoy your weekend!

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Questioning quotas
IBM exec Harriet Green says she is not in favor of gender quotas on corporate boards because the positions should be awarded on merit. Green, the former CEO of Thomas Cook who now runs IBM's global internet of things business, says she prefers to focus on "building a pipeline of brilliantly capable women."
Computer Weekly

Backing away from Brexit

Sarah Wollaston, one of Britain's top Conservative members of parliament, made waves this week when she changed sides in the debate over whether the country should leave the European Union. Wollaston, a doctor, said she now is going to vote to remain in the EU because of concern of what leaving would do to the National Health Service.

Guardian

Where the pay gap shrinks

A new survey by the platform Comparably shows the gender pay gap in tech is the largest among entry-level workers, though it shrinks once employees reach middle age. The gap is 29% for employees under 25, but just 5% for those in their 50s.

Business Insider UK

ASIA-PACIFIC

Lawyers lose

Female attorneys in Australia face a bigger gender pay gap than working women in any other field, a new study shows. Next in line are female stockbrokers and traders, those in the electrical trades, and surgeons.

Sydney Morning Herald

THE AMERICAS

A CFO is just a CFO

When Ruth Porat, CFO of Google parent Alphabet, was called the "lady CFO" at the company's annual shareholder meeting this week, another investor rushed to her defense. Shareholder Danielle Ginach of Sonen Capital said, "I am sorry to put another shareholder on the spot. But Ms. Porat is the CFO, not the lady CFO." Well put.

Coins2Day

Women for Trump

Three women are launching a Super PAC called Women Vote Trump. The women—Kathryn Serkes, Anne Stone and Amy Kremer—have a goal of raising $30 million for the candidate.

Coins2Day

Where women aren't

Now that Hillary Clinton has claimed the Democratic nomination, the BBC has put together a (somewhat depressing) rundown of U.S. Female leadership. While it takes note of leaders such as Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen and GM CEO Mary Barra, it points out that other institutions are sorely lacking in women.

BBC