Women are transforming the corporate landscape through their own initiatives.

• CNBC has unveiled its first Changemakers list, highlighting female leaders driving innovation and transformation across large corporations, startups, and philanthropic organizations.
• The list comprises CEOs and CFOs from major stock market companies, as well as prominent individuals from various sectors, totaling 17 categories and over $200 billion in market value.
• The new generation of women in business is developing innovative solutions to repair flawed systems and integrating purpose with profits.

On Wednesday, CNBC will reveal its annual list of 50 women who are driving innovation and change in business across large corporations, startups, and philanthropic organizations.

CNBC has evaluated the applicants' impact through both quantitative and qualitative lenses, with a particular focus on their accomplishments during the past year, after receiving 720 nominations and receiving guidance from the Changemakers Advisory Board.

The 2024 Changemakers class comprises 17 sectors, with health care, tech, and consumer products and financial services leading the way. The class includes 15 startup CEOs and founders with a total valuation of over $47 billion and 11 public company CEOs overseeing firms with a combined market cap of about $170 billion. Additionally, the class features five women using technology to enhance the philanthropic impact of their organizations and four women disrupting the sports business industry. Nearly one-fifth of the women are based outside the U.S.

In 2023, several individuals have made significant contributions to society and propelled major businesses to new levels of growth.

Anat Ashkenazi, the CFO of Eli Lilly, secured key manufacturing capacity for a blockbuster weight-loss drug and worked to lower the prices for insulin drugs amid heightened political scrutiny of prescription costs. Svanika Balasubramanian, CEO and co-founder of RePurpose Global, is working to minimize and repurpose plastic waste alongside hundreds of consumer brands. Laura Modi, CEO of Bobbie, has taken on the baby formula shortage with a new product, while Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, co-CEOs of Baby2Baby, are upending the status quo in diaper manufacturing and distribution.

Some Changemakers are leveraging their influence to create new business opportunities. Alex Cooper is revolutionizing the podcast industry with a new audio media empire. Tracee Ellis Ross is disrupting the hair-care industry with Pattern Beauty. Naomi Osaka is making waves both on the tennis court and off with her media company and skincare line.

CNBC identified several trends in the Changemakers, including women leaders who are combining purpose and profits, creating businesses that succeed while achieving environmental or social good. Balasubramanian of rePurpose Global created a model that succeeds when companies reduce their plastic production and environmental impact. Upwards CEO Jessica Chang is reimagining the business of child care to make it more accessible and affordable. Maayan Cohen of Hello Heart is helping individuals manage cardiovascular health while helping employers manage costs.

Inventors of new solutions to broken systems, changemakers are also reformers. They provide women with new options in overlooked areas. Kate Ryder closes gaps in women's and family health care with Maven. Monique Rodriguez creates new options for natural hair care. Jessica Berman proves the broad appeal of women's sports and closes the pay gap among professional athletes.

Several women are making strides in the renewable energy industry, including Dandelion Energy CEO Kathy Hannun, who is working to establish a new market for geothermal energy, and Twelve's Etosha Cave, who is focused on converting CO2 and water into aviation fuel.

Despite women being underrepresented in the tech industry, particularly in AI, several of this year's Changemakers are using AI to improve and accelerate their businesses and others. Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, is helping companies deploy AI across their organizations. Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder and COO at Cloudflare, is providing AI tools to enhance cybersecurity and reduce costs for vulnerable, critical infrastructure providers, including schools and local election systems. Kristin Peck, CEO of an animal health company, is leveraging AI to improve outcomes for pets and their owners.

These women are trailblazers in their fields, with inspiring stories and unique approaches. The Changemakers remind us that success is a result of leading in ways that are authentic.

Julia Boorstin, an author for CNBC, wrote "When Women Lead," a book that combines the narratives of successful women entrepreneurs with data on how they achieved their goals. In the book, Boorstin examines the concept of "reformers" - women working to mend flawed systems.