January welcomed a trove of history-making women leaders, led by Vice President Kamala D. Harris. The trend continued in the arts, with the youngest inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman, in boardrooms, and globally, where women made inroads in representational leadership.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images News/Getty Images
1. Joe Biden's Cabinet will have the most women in U.S. history.
Biden has tapped 12 women to join his Cabinet, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman to hold the role.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images
2. The 117th Congress has the most women in history.
On Jan. 3, the new Congress was sworn into office, with women comprising 27% of all seats. In the House of Representatives, there are at least 28 Republican women, more than doubling the GOP's previous record of 13.
3. Dr. Jill Biden is keeping her day job.
The first lady will continue teaching at Northern Virginia Community College, where she taught writing throughout her husband's tenure as vice president. (Per the New York Times, she's been known as a "tough grader.") She'll be the first FLOTUS to balance her D.C. responsibilities with an outside job.
4. Estonia taps its first woman prime minister.
On Jan. 26, the Baltic country welcomed Kaja Kallas as its new prime minister, the country's top governmental position. The 43-year-old, a former member of European Parliament, leads Estonia's Reform Party. (The country also has a woman president, Kersti Kaljulaid.)
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
5. Activist Sarah McBride takes office.
On Jan. 12, the 30-year-old was sworn into office as a Delaware state senator, making her the country's highest ranking trans elected official.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/Getty Images
6. Walgreens appoints its first woman CEO.
Rosalind Brewer, a former Starbucks and Sam's Club executive, is set to lead Walgreens as the company's first woman CEO. In assuming the role, she'll become the only Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
7. Jennifer King breaks an NFL barrier.
On Jan. 26, the 36-year-old was promoted to assistant running backs coach for the Washington Football Team, becoming the first Black woman with a full-time coaching job in the league.
8. And for the first time, a woman will officiate the Super Bowl.
On Sunday, Feb. 7, Sarah Thomas will join an eight-person crew to officiate this year's Super Bowl. Six years ago, she made history as the first woman to be a full-time official in the NFL.