Meghan Markle speaks at Fortune’s 2025 Most Powerful Women summit, October 14, 2025. She provided a strong keynote that reinforced the need for financial freedom, stability, and independence. Taking place in the extraordinary Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, this star-studded event brought together powerful women leaders from every sector to celebrate female empowerment and leadership.
Markle stepped out on her first engagement in great business chic fashion, wearing an international-style tailored blouse and midi skirt. She fought fiercely for initiatives like financial literacy. Her mission today is to inspire and equip the next generation of young girls to conquer the world. In her candid discussion with Fortune’s editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell, Meghan Markle shared her incredible story. She discussed why it was critical for young people to understand financial issues and their role in their own development.
Markle talked about her nearly seven year journey creating a scripted series for Netflix. She worked alongside a passionate team of 200 gifted creatives. She stated, “So I love creating that culture, having that camaraderie with my team, and playing and being curious constantly, just pushing the envelope to ask the questions of, ‘How can we show up in a way that truly indicates that we are putting care into every detail?’”
The most interesting thing about her appearance was what she wore on her feet. She donned a pair, which she had worn during son Archie’s christening back in July 2019. On Thursday, she wore the custom shoes with a breathtaking white Christian Dior dress. To ground her outfit, she topped it off with a coordinating hat while visiting the Private Chapel within Windsor Castle. This example of style recycling tells a fairytale story and serves as symbolic of Markle’s embrace of sustainability and intentionality.
During her address, Markle strongly advocated for autonomy, stating, “And I think in this day and age, we all need to be able to have our autonomy. That is a huge element of that. Financial literacy, for that reason, is something that I spend a lot of time on, specifically for young girls and their empowerment.” Her remarks resonated with many attendees, as she underscored the importance of equipping the next generation with the tools they need to navigate financial landscapes.
Markle, for her part, spoke to the wider implications of increased financial conversations between women. She continued, “Doesn’t have to be anything secretive about discussing our financial freedom or our freedom in general. And as women, we support each other. We are not just extending one another’s days. We’re supporting each other’s legacies.” This quote made clear her faith in personal, community power and the need to build structures of support between women.
Besides advocating for financial independence, Markle opened up about her entrepreneurial pursuits and why media representation matters. She was very open about her experiences with social media and how it shifted her career path.
Markle’s stylish ensemble included a Gabriela Hearst blouse, a Brochu Walker skirt, Polène earrings, and a ring from a Ukrainian designer. Her stunning sartorial selection highlighted both her elevated sartorial taste and fierce devotion to sustainable style.
