The Top Ten Most Powerful Women in the World

The world is not only ruled by men although it may seem so. There are in fact powerful and amazing women who have great roles that you would never imagine. They are there in every aspect of our life whether it is politics, economy, technology, and humanity. Granted that their number is still not as many as men, but they are catching up. When do you think it will come one day when there are as many women on top positions as men, or even more?

Meanwhile, take a close look of ten top most powerful women by Forbes Magazine.

1. Angela Merkel

Who have not yet heard about Angela Merkel these days? With the Europe crisis still going on, Angela Merkel is one key person in the Europe Union in charge for the crisis relief project. Her remark on Greece’s spending habit has sparked more controversy than necessary.

Merkel was born as Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954 in Hamburg. She started to get involved in politics after the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 by joining the Democratic Awakening Party. She assumed office as the Chancellor of Germany in 2005 and reelected for the second time in 2008 for another three-year period of leading Germany.

2. Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is on the list because she is currently the 67th Secretary of State of the United States of America. However, people around the world have known her long before she assumed office in 2009.

People were introduced to this amazing woman when her husband, Bill Clinton, got elected as the President of the United States. He was a popular American President and Hillary Clinton was no less popular First Lady. The public loved her for her strength in facing her husband sex scandal back then.

Born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago, Hillary then proved that she was more than just a famous First Lady by making her own career in politics by running as a president candidate from Democrate before beaten by Obama, who then appointed her to be the Secretary of State after winning the presidential election.

3. Dilma Rousseff

The name is may be unfamiliar to most people, but Dilma Rousseff is the most important and powerful person in Brazil. Yes, she is the current and 36th President of Brazil as well as the first woman to hold the position in that country.

Born on December 14, 1947, Dilma Vana Rousseff had been involved in politics since her youth. Once joining the guerilla activity and got captured, she got elected as the Minister of Energy in 2003 when the revolution was over. Her career shone well and she was appointed as the Chief of Staff of Brazil in 2005 before she ran for the presidency in 2011 and won the election.

4. Indra Nooyi

Crossing the equator, let us meet Indra Nooyi. After we read about three powerful women in politic world, now it comes the time to meet one who runs a company instead of a country. Indra Nooyi who was born in India is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, one of the largest food business industries in the world.

Indra Nooyi was born in Madras on October 28, 1955. She has a bachelor degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and master degree in Management in India before she got the chance to go to Yale School of Management to get another master degree in Public and Private Management. With that, she moved her career to the States too by joining Motorola and Asea Brown Boveri before PepsiCo hired her in 2004.

5. Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg’s name is a hot topic nowadays. With her involvement in one of the most fast growing company today, Facebook, it is hard not to want to know about the woman. Holding position as the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook since 2008, Sandberg is one of the persons who hold the vital key in Facebook’s success over the years.

Sandberg was born on August 28, 1969 in Washington D.C. She started her career in the White House before she received Google’s offer to be its Vice President of Global Online Sales. Fate then met her with Zuckerberg in a Christmas party in 2007 which resulted in her appointment as Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer..

6. Melinda Gates

We all know Bill Gates and why he is one of the most important figures in this century. But what is it with Melinda?

We don’t hear much about Melinda Gates, but it does not make her role less important in the founding of Microsoft and the charity foundation she founded together with her husband.

Melinda herself is a genius in academic and got a degree in computer science and economics and a master degree in business. Therefore, it is not surprising if she was helping all along with the founding of Microsoft. She was in fact the unit manager of Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Encarta, and Expedia before she decided that she wanted to focus on her family. However, although she had decided to retire from Microsoft, Melinda who was born on August 15, 1964 is still active in running Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has received several awards together with her husband for their philanthropy deeds.

7. Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi is a legend in India and in the world. The woman is a charismatic leader in her country and currently is the leader of the Indian National Congress, one of big political party in India. Married into one of the descendant of Gandhi dynasty, it was inevitable that finally she would have to get involved into Indian politics by herself.

Born as Antonia Edvige Albina Maino in Italy on December 9, 1946, Sonia Gandhi’s fate changed when she accepted Rajiv Gandhi’s marriage proposal and went with him to his native country. Soon, she had to step on to help with his husband’s campaign after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Her nationality once became a problem when she intended to run for Indian prime minister position. Since then, she never showed any interest to be a prime minister again although now she is legally qualified.

8. Michelle Obama

As the current First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama does evoke admiration. She is a charming and popular First Lady and often compared to the late Jacqueline Kennedy.

Born on January 17, 1964, Michelle Obama is a popular and inspiring figure for many women in the world. Her shining career before she becomes the First Lady proved that she is more a brain than only a beauty. Her incessant support during her husband’s campaign, presidency, and her skill in raising her two daughters also proves her to be an excellent role model for women all around the world.

9. Christine Lagarde

You may never have this coming but the Managing Director of International Monetary Fund, the international organization that is in charge in giving monetary aids to countries all over the world, is a woman. Her name is Christine Lagarde.

After IMF was shocked by sex scandal of its leader, Dominique Strauss Kahn, they needed someone to hold the post soon. The choice then went to Christine Lagarde. Born on January 1, 1956, Lagarde’s portfolio was really convincing to the board to appoint her as Strauss-Kahn’s replacement. She was the Minister of Economic Affairs, Finances and Industry and the Minister of Agriculture and Fishing of France.

Time proves that she did not disappoint. Facing hard challenge of the Europe crisis, Lagarde gained praises from several nation leaders for her job.

10. Irene Rosenfeld

Irene Rosenfeld is the last woman in our top ten most powerful women list. She is the CEO of Kraft Foods, a big food and beverage company in the United States. Rosenfeld had worked all the way from the bottom of her career to finally get a $16.9 million annual salary in her position as CEO in 2009.

Born in May 3, 1953 in Westbury, New York, Irene Rosenfeld got her bachelor degree in psychology, a master degree in business, and a Ph.D in marketing and statistics. She started by working as an advertising agency staff for General Foods before joined Frito-Lay in 2004. The acquisition of General Foods by Kraft Foods then made her part of the company and brought her to the CEO position of Kraft Foods in June 2006.