From the governor’s office to the halls of Congress, from the board rooms of Fortune 500 companies to corner offices at Michigan’s most prominent businesses, on front lines and production lines and on the ground in their communities, these 100 women reach across generations to draw inspiration from those who came before and encourage tomorrow’s leaders.

Every five years since 1997, Crain’s has named a list of Michigan’s most influential women in business, public policy, entrepreneurship, nonprofits, and higher education who have used their power to make measurable differences in their field, companies, and communities the region and state.

Nominations came from these women’s peers, past honorees, and Crain’s readers, reporters and editors. Top newsroom leadership selected the winners based on the significance of their contributions and specific stories of real influence and impact. I had the honor of being a judge and of interviewing and writing the profiles of 78 of the 100 women honored.

Learn about the amazing women that made the list here.