Janet Yellen
(1946–present)
In 2014, Janet Yellen became the first female chair of the Federal Reserve—a historic appointment, given that women make up less than 30 percent of the economic field. Despite her role as one of the most powerful women in economics, Yellen has faced an onslaught of sexism, from off-color jokes to suggestions that she look to her husband for economic advice. Though women still pursue economics at a rate much lower than men (roughly 3-to-1), experts have pointed to Yellen’s appointment as a potential turning point towards gender equality in the field.
According to The New York Times, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Yellen to be his Treasury secretary. If confirmed, Janet Yellen would be the first woman to lead the Treasury in its 231-year history.
“Listening to others, especially those with whom we disagree, tests our own ideas and beliefs. It forces us to recognize, with humility, that we don’t have a monopoly on the truth.”
—Janet Yellen
Cloudy Thurstag is a Berlin-based art lover turned illustrator and art director.
This feature originally appeared in the Money issue.