In 2017, a study by the Confederation of Danish Industry concluded that the number of women in the executive offices has increased. Three months later, an analysis by the trade union Djøf concluded that we are still a long way away from achieving gender equality in the Danish managerial and executive offices.

Thus women’s representation in executive offices, managerial positions and board rooms in Danish companies and organisations was also a topic of debate in 2017. And the debate continues to depend on the point of departure you adopt.

But who are these powerful women?

In October, Berlingske Business Magasin zoomed in on this topic when they published the list “100 women at the top”. Nine of these top 100 women are Aarhus BSS alumni. Meet them here:

Nina Smith

62 years old. Professor of Economics at Aarhus BSS where she graduated in 1981. Denmark’s first female chief economic advisor to the Danish government and current chairwoman of Forenet Kredit and Nykredits Fond. Also board member in Carlsberg A/S, among others.

Anne Broeng

56 years old. Master of Science in Economics and Management from Aarhus BSS. Former Group CEO and CFO of PFA Pension. Currently a board member in NASDAQ OMX Nordic Ltd., Velux A/S, Købmand Herman Sallings Fond, F. Salling Holding A/S, Danske Commodities A/S, among others.

Marianne Dahl Steensen

43 years old. Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration at Aarhus BSS in 1999. CEO of Microsoft Danmark since 2015. Also board member in the Confederation of Danish Industry.

Karen Frøsig

59 years old. Master of Laws at Aarhus BSS in 1983. CEO of Sydbank since 2010. Also board member in the Financial Council, Totalkredit and Multidate Holding A/S, among others. Alum of the Year at Aarhus BSS in 2014.

Lene Espersen

52 years old. Master of Science in Economics and Management at Aarhus BSS in 1990. Former Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Currently the CEO of the trade association Danske Arkitektvirksomheder.

Anne Steffensen

54 years old. Master of Science in Political Science at Aarhus BSS in 1990. Former CEO of the Danish Trade Council and Danish ambassador to the UK. Currently the CEO of the Danish Shipowners' Association.

Barbara Berthelsen

44 years old. Master of Laws at Aarhus BSS in 1998. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice since 2015. Former Deputy Director of the Agency for Modernisation.Alum of the Year at Aarhus BSS in 2017.

Mette Lykke

36 years old. Master of Science in Political Science at Aarhus BSS in 2006. Left a consultancy job at McKinsey & Company in 2007 to become co-founder of the exercise app Endomondo, which was sold to the sports clothing giant Under Armour in 2015. Left Endomondo in 2017 to become the CEO of the company Too Good To Go.

Marianne Kirkegaard

49 years old. Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration At Aarhus BSS in 1993. CEO of CSM Bakery Solutions since 2016. Situated in Atlanta, USA, she is the head of more than 8,500 employees. Also board member in Dansk Supermarked and Aarhuskarlshamn (AAK), among others.