World

Forbes Most Powerful Women: Angela Merkel Tops

by candice.tsuei | August 19, 2009 at 03:54 pm

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel still dominated the No. 1 spot on Forbe's annual ranking of the world's most powerful women for the fourth year in a row, while First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn't get in top 30.

"Women in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they must stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions."

Merkel, became the first female chancellor of Germany in 2005 and is running for a second term in the Sept 27 federal election.

In second place came Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which provides deposit insurance in US member banks. The third place was taken by Indra Nooyi, chief executive at PepsiCo., followed by Cynthia Carroll, chief executive of mining giant Anglo American, and Ho Ching, Singapore's First Lady and chief executive at Singapore's government investment company Temasek Holdings.

Other notables include Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, at No. 36; talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, at No. 41; philanthropist Melinda Gates, at No. 34; Queen Elizabeth II, at No. 42; and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, at No. 35.
First Lady Michelle Obama joined the list at No. 40. Other newcomers are Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, at No. 56; recently sworn-in Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, at No. 54; Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, at No. 51; and SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, at No. 55.

The list is created based on factors including economic impact, media reach, and career accomplishments.

The full list is available on Forbes website here.

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Babel-Fish

at 19:05 on August 19th, 2009

Oh my... Obama wife is not a politician, she does not have any power so she should not be on any list. Or perhaps people think she wears the trousers in the white house? Possibly lol

Hilary Clinton is a whole different deal she does have power and the right wing of politics do not really like that factor. she is a politician and infact reportedly quiet a good one. Do I see a report that shows contempt of her power? yep I do...

ashly paterson (not verified)

at 02:33 on August 20th, 2009

I'm very sad and unhappy this article.
i hate forbes because hillary's ranking is so low.
she is most powerful and she is heading powerful us state department, rice ranking last year was 7,she isn't so popularity like hillary, last year hillary was 28 and pelosi is 35 , hillary is senator last year and now is secretary of state, this ranking is silly. why obama wife is 40 !!!!! she has no power in world even us. i disagree with forbes ranking, shame on forbes with this ranking, hillary is most admire woman in 2008 and in 2009 she is 8 in times most infeusinal person, it's silly she is 36.

sara star

at 03:21 on August 20th, 2009

The problem with Hillary is that she is not endearing, nor do I find much warmth emanating from her. I feel tension and battle coming from her. A person of power would be much more relaxed. Just a feeling I get.

True power is not aggressive.