The 12 most powerful women executives in America

Updated

Including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki, these women are making waves in their respective industries -- while overseeing major sales.

What do Beyonce, Sheryl Sandberg, and Meg Whitman all have in common?

They're all members of Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" list, an annual ranking of 50 corporate executives that are making major breakthroughs in their industries. Factors considered include how important the businesses are to the global economy, as well as their "social and cultural influence." Together, these companies have a market capitalization of more than $1 trillion.

Here's a look at 12 of the most notable names on Fortune's 2016 list -- plus, a bonus. The editors point out that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for President, is conspicuously absent -- only because the list is limited to business executives.

Check out the top 12 below:

1. Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook

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The lauded Facebook exec oversees some $17.9 billion in mobile ad-revenue for the social media giant, which now makes up 84 percent of total ad sales. She's also penning a new book, called Option B, which explores Sandberg's grieving process, after her husband passed away last year.

2. Meg Whitman, CEO of HP Enterprise

In 2015, Whitman executed the contentious separation of Hewlett Packard -- into HP Enterprise and HP Inc. More recently, she announced that HP Enterprise would merge its IT services with Computer Sciences to form a new company, which is now planning to sell its software operations for $8.8 billion.

3. Safra Catz, co-CEO of Oracle

Catz oversaw the major overhaul of the software company's contracting process this year, which is now used for some two-thirds of all cloud deals made.

4. Helena Foulkes, president of CVS/Pharmacy, EVP of CVS Health

Foulkes grew the company's retail business by more than 6.2 percent to $72 billion last year. She also helped to make up for losses from the health giant's 2014 decision to stop selling tobacco, in part through purchasing Target's pharmacies. Foulkes is currently working on a new mobile payment app for CVS.

5. Ruth Porat, CFO at Google and Alphabet

Porat got a big promotion in 2015, when it was announced that Google - where served as CFO -- would be held by the newly minted parent company, Alphabet Inc. Now chief of finance at both firms, Porat has shepherded double-digit increases in profits and revenues this year.

6. Angela Ahrendts, retail chief at Apple

As head of retail for the tech giant, Ahrendts is responsible for roughly 12 percent of Apple's massive $233.7 billion in sales. This year, Ahrendts introduced a new store design at the company's flagship shop in San Francisco, including a boardroom where app developers can network with small businesses, and give feedback on their products.

7. Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube

Amid competition from major companies including Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Snapchat, Wojcicki grew the video website to reach $9 billion in sales last year. Recently, she oversaw the addition of live streaming and virtual reality videos onto the platform, as well as the introduction of new advertising formats.

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8. Rosalind Brewer, CEO and President of Sam's Club, Walmart

As the head of Walmart's $57 billion warehouse club division, Brewer has grown the firm by focusing on e-commerce, introducing in-store pickup for online orders, and an app that lets customers pay without going to checkout.

9. Amy Hood, CFO and EVP of Microsoft

Hood, who was appointed chief of finance at Microsoft in 2013, is the first woman to hold the job at the software maker. She helped to negotiate its massive $26.3 billion deal to buy LinkedIn, announced in June.

10. Lynne Doughtie, CEO and Chairman of KPMG U.S.

Last year, Doughtie became the professional services firm's first female CEO. She oversaw its massive 14.8 percent revenue increase for the 2015 fiscal year -- to $7.9 billion.

11. Bonnie Hammer, Chair of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group, Comcast

Even as new media companies are changing the game for cable networks, Hammer has helped NBC to air hits like Mr. Robot, among the most popular shows on television. She also led the company's deal to acquire the broadcast and cable rights to the Harry Potter film franchise.

12. Anne Finucane, vice chairman of Bank of America

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Finucane, as vice chairman of Bank of America, is the only woman to hold this title of all major U.S. banks. She oversees the company's $83.4 billion commitment to "green lending," or lending based on environmental criteria.

Bonus: Beyonce

The singer is a bonus on Fortune's list, as the first female artist to have 12 songs on the Billboard top 100 -- all on her recent album, Lemonade. In the world of business, Beyonce has started her own entertainment and management company, Parkwood Entertainment, and more recently launched Ivy Park, a clothing company. In May, she invested in a startup called WTMLN WTR.

See who made Forbes' 2016 Most Powerful Women list below:

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