SVP, Global product development
GM
2011 rank: New
Age: 50
The highest-ranking woman in the global auto industry, Barra oversees a $15 billion engineering budget and 36,000 employees. In 2012 she's been spending one week a month in Germany, working to turn around Opel. Her star is on the rise: CEO Dan Akerson has identified Barra as a candidate to succeed him.
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