Forbes Releases List of 100 Most Powerful Women

Listing of Powerful and Influential Female Leaders Around the World

Aug 28, 2008 Christine Nyholm

Forbes compiles an annual listing of powerful women in the world. 2008 list is headed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Women wield influence in politics and business.

Forbes Magazine has released their 2008 list of "100 Most Powerful Women in the World." Women have been making inroads into politics, business and entertainment, but still lag behind men overall. German Chancellor Angela Merkel topped the list for the third year in a row. U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton came in number 28 on this international listing. Entertainment mogul and popular media personality, Oprah Winfrey, took the number 36 spot on this list of 100.

According to the Forbes article, the women on this prestigious list do not have to be rich, but they do have to wield influence. The list is comprised of a facinating a mix of women from around the world. Powerful women wield influence in politics, business and in media.

Forbes list ranks the top 100 powerful women from around the world. Following are the top ten women on the Forbes list. See the article in Forbes Magazine for a complete listing of the "100 Most Powerful Women in the World.."

1. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany: Germany is the biggest economy in Europe, with a $3.3 trillion GDP. Merkel's reforms include a later retirement age, more women in senior government posts and raised payments to new parents. Kohl assumed the Office of the Chancellor of Germany in November, 2005.
2. Sheila C. Bair, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.:FDIC insures U.S. financial institutions. Bair was sworn in as the 19th Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, for a five year term, in 2006 (FDIC website).
3. Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive of PepsiCo, U.S.: Nooyi has increased the $39 billion food and beverage giant though new products and acquisitions. PepsiCo subsidiaries include Quaker, Gatorade and FritoLay. Nooyi was named President and CEO in October, 2006, according to the PepsiCo website.
4. Angela Braly, Chief Executive, President of WellPoint, U.S.: Braly was named CEO of Wellpoint in June, 2007. The female executive crashed through the glass ceiling of the health insurance industry, but still earned $26 million less than her male predecessor in 2007.
5. Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, U.K.: Anglo American is the mining giant founded by Earnest Oppenheimer in 1917. Carroll, who took the helm of Anglo American in 2007, is not only the first woman to head the company, she is the first non-South African.
6. Irene B. Rosenfeld, Chairman, Chief Executive, Kraft Foods, U.S.: Rosenfeld has headed Kraft Foods since 2006.
7. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State: As the Bush administration prepares to leave office, Rice continues to try for peace in the Middle East.
8. Ho Ching, Chief Executive, Temasek Holdings, Singapore. Ho Ching is the wife of the Prime Minister of Singapore. She has brought the holdings of Temasek to roughly $100 billion.
9. Anne Lauergeon, Chief Executive, Areva, France. Areva is an energy conglomerate known for nuclear power. Lauvergeon has been the CEO of Areva Group since 2001, according to the Areva website.
10. Anne Mulcahy, Chairman, Chief Executive, Xerox Corp., U.S.: Mulcahy is credited with turning around the copier manufacturer from the brink of financial collapse. She was named Chief Executive of the Year by her peers. Mulcahy was named CEO of Xerox in 2001, according to the Xerox website.

Read the article in Forbes Magazine for further analysis and the complete listing of the "100 Most Powerful Women in the World

For lisitng of powerful women in U.S. Government and Politics, read Sarah Palin Joins John McCain Presidential Bid .

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Angela Merkel German Chancellor

Shiela Bair U.S. FDIC

Condoleezza Rice US Secretary of State