Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women List

Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” List Makes No Sense To Us

Posted by: Nikki Dowling Filed in: news
2:50PM, Thursday August 20th 2009

Forbes’ annual “Powerful Women” issue hits newsstands tomorrow, but their 2009 list of the 100 most powerful women in the world has left us scratching our heads. The magazine insists the list is based on power, not popularity. They go by press mentions and the size of the country, business or organization the woman runs. But that doesn’t explain why German Chancellor Angela Merkel is at number one for the fourth year in a row. I’ll admit, she has been in the news a lot lately. But only because she’s up for re-election and campaign posters showing her in a low-cut top have generated mucho controversy. After the jump, see the other unlikely gals in the top ten.

2. Sheila Bair, chairman of America’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
3. Indra Nooyi, chief exec at PepsiCo
4. Cynthia Carroll, chief exec of Anglo American, one of the world’s largest mining and natural resource conglomerates
5. Ho Ching, leader of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Tamasek
6. Irene Rosenfeld, chief exec of Kraft Foods, producer of too-orange mac n’ cheese
7. Ellen Kullman, chief exec of DuPont, develops materials and products, many of which aim to be more environmentally friendly
8. Angela Braly chief exec of WellPoint, a giant health insurance company
9. Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive, Areva, an energy company with a focus on nuclear power
10. Lynn Elsenhans, chief executive, Sunoco, unethical gas giant [Forbes]

With the exception of the first two, all the women on this list are chief executives. While I am sure they have a lot of money and influence within their companies, I don’t think these chicks have as much power as many female politicians and women in other positions of power. Being the head of a company is impressive and I’m sure CEOs make important decisions every day. But do their choices matter as much as those of, say, Hillary Clinton? I think not.

Speaking of Hills, she’s on the list in slot #36, which is totes strange since Nancy Pelosi is #35. And why the eff is Michelle Obama way down at #40 when Xerox’s CEO Ursula Burns was flying high at #14?! Johanna Sigurdardottir, Iceland’s new Prime Minister who could be instrumental in rebuilding the country, didn’t make the list until #74. And in case things weren’t weird enough, all these lady politicians got beat out by Avon’s chief executive, Andrea Jung. Makeup is cool, Forbes, but not that cool. Oh, and really—Oprah is #41? Sorry, but I think she’d beat the CEO of Pepsi any day.

Who would be on your top ten list?

comments

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 02:01 pm: [report]

It’s because it’s in Forbes. If it was in Oprah’s magazine it would be totally different.

Claireific
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 02:09 pm: [report]

Oprah is so incredibly awful. She exists entirely to pat herself on the back. Hey Oprah, maybe you should put someone on the cover of your magazine besides YOU. Ever think of that? Of course not.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 02:14 pm: [report]

@Claireific: To her credit the magazine is called the “Oprah Magazine”

xifeng882
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 02:27 pm: [report]

Can someone explain to me the fascination with Oprah? I’ve never quite understood that.

Christinaval
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 03:08 pm: [report]

I despise Oprah.

Okay Tea
wrote on August 20 2009 @ 06:37 pm: [report]

RE: Clinton/Pelosi—Many would argue that Nancy Pelosi, as House Speaker, does probably have more power than Hillary Clinton. Pelosi is 2nd in line for the Presidency, if anything were to happen to the President, while Clinton is a few steps away at 4th…according to that, Pelosi is, in fact, more powerful. Also, as leader of the House, and active lawmaker, Pelosi technically has a voice daily in decisions being made, while many would consider the position of Secretary of State to be more symbolic.

Frederica Bimble
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 12:39 pm: [report]

Ooooh, we don’t do politics, much, do we? It isn’t that they’re CEO’s but look at the companies or organisation. There is your answer. Your government isn’t run by those folks in the White House, don’t you know.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 12:50 pm: [report]

@Frederica Bimble: Who contributes the money which puts those people in office…dwell on that a few moments.

*sam*
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 01:00 pm: [report]

wait, isn’t Forbes a business/economics magazine?? therefore, wouldn’t it make sense that the women in the top 10 are CEO’s instead of politicians?? ..just sayin’

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 01:01 pm: [report]

@sam: Please see my first comment.

*sam*
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 01:03 pm: [report]

@cheeeeEEEEse: ah, yes. thank you

Riley
wrote on August 21 2009 @ 01:15 pm: [report]

Ursula Burns also helped pull Xerox from the brink, they were going out of business before she and Ann Mulcahy stepped in. How many jobs has Michelle Obama saved with her business expertise? The power to save/create thousands of jobs and millions in revenue is a lot more appreciated than face-time philanthropy.

Really, try to understand the article you are commenting on before doing so.

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