8. Valerie Jarrett
Senior Adviser to the President
Last year's rank: 5
Obama's liaison to the business world gets mixed reviews from corporate chiefs increasingly at odds with the White House. But she still has the President's ear -- and could replace Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff if he seeks a mayoral bid in Chicago.
NEXT: Diana Farrell
Last updated September 29 2010: 11:28 AM ET
