1- Angela Merkel
Chancellor, Germany
Impressive leadership at two global summits, unemployment at a five-year low and healthy GDP growth are why Merkel recently got a 75% popularity rating— despite raising taxes.
2- Wu Yi
Vice Premier, China
Oversees an economy set to displace Germany as the third largest, while staring down U.S. trade protectionists.
3- Ho Ching
Chief Executive, Temasek
Holdings, Singapore Wife of prime minister heads country’s state-owned investment firm, with $108 billion in net portfolio assets.
4- Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State, U.S.
Her toughest diplomatic challenge is defending Bush Administration policies against the antiwar crowd.
5- Indra Nooyi
Chief Executive,PepsiCo, U.S.
Her company’s $110 billion market value puts it not far behind Coca-Cola.
6- Sonia Gandhi
President, Indian National
Congress Party, India Her handpicked choice became India’s first female president this year.
7- Cynthia Carroll
Chief Executive, Anglo American, U.K.
This mining conglomerate has interests in platinum, coal, gold, industrial minerals and diamonds.
8- Patricia Woertz
Chief Executive, Archer Daniels
Midland, U.S.
Her agribusiness giant is riding high on global trade and ethanol.
9- Irene Rosenfeld
Chief Executive, Kraft Foods, U.S.
This conglomeration of Kraft, General Foods and Nabisco is now cut free from its tobacco (Altria Group) moorings.
10- Patricia Russo
Chief Executive, Alcatel-Lucent, U.S.
Her telecom equipment firm battles younger firms for a bigger share in emerging markets.
According to Elizabeth MacDonald and Chana R. Schoenberger on www.forbes.com