World's Most Powerful Women (51-60)

Janet Napolitano
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S.
This former governor of Arizona was named by President Obama as the first female head of the Department of Homeland Security. Recent initiatives include pushing Congress to roll back some of the more stringent and costly post-9/11 driver's license requirements, reviewing the nation's rainbow-hued terror alert system, and immigration reform. In turf war with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates over sending National Guard troops to help fight drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border; Napolitano would like to send 1,500 troops to border areas if funding is available. While governor, became the first woman to chair the National Governors Association; as U.S. attorney, helped lead the investigation into the Oklahoma City Bombing.

Anne Sweeney
Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks
U.S.
If you like Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives or Dancing with the Stars, you have Anne Sweeney to thank. Sweeney, who heads Disney's TV operations, is also responsible for smash-hit tween idols Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") and the Jonas Brothers. But Sweeney's group, like so many throughout the media, has been hit by layoffs this year as it struggles to deal with the recession's effects on TV advertising. The former Nickelodeon and Fox exec has been with Disney for a dozen years.

Neelie Kroes
Commissioner for Competition, European Union
Belgium
Though up for a second term in October, "Steely Neelie" is maintaining her hard line on bank handouts, stating that banks should regain profitability independently of public aid; in July, warned that the U.K's Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group may need to be broken up. World's top anti-trust regulator recently imposed hefty fines on chipmaker Intel ($1.45 billion for illegally preventing rival companies from entering lucrative sectors of the computer chip market) and utilities E.ON and GDF Suez (more than $750 million for collusion). Enthusiastic about getting more women into top positions in politics and business. "My clear line is that if Lehman Brothers had been 'Lehman Sisters,' would the crisis have happened like it did? No. Generally, women have a better ear to listen, and they are less likely to pretend to know everything themselves. They are team players with less ego," Kroes has said.

Gail Boudreaux
President, UnitedHealthcare
U.S.
Boudreaux began her career at Aetna and spent 20 years working her way up the chain until she moved to Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2002 as an executive vice president. Then, in the spring of 2008, she joined UnitedHealth—the No. 1 health insurer in the U.S.—as head of its most profitable division, which brings in half of the company's revenue. She hit the ground running. She immediately consolidated six national regions into four and plans to grow profits by focusing more intently on local markets. She now oversees 42,000 employees worldwide.

Sonia Sotomayor
Supreme Court Justice
U.S.
In August, she was confirmed as the U.S. Supreme Court's first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice. Faced stiff Republican opposition after her impartiality was questioned; other critics argued she failed to clarify her legal thinking. Democrats were gleeful about adding another liberal to the court. Important court decisions in the next session will test her mettle. Cases expected in the fall term include whether to extend Eighth Amendment protections beyond the area of capital punishment to juvenile offenders who have been convicted and punished as adults, and an inquiry into the constitutionality of campaign-finance rules. The Bronx-born jurist studied at Princeton and Yale, and has 17 years of experience on the federal bench.

Mary Schapiro
Chairman Securities&Exchange Commission
U.S.
Schapiro was unanimously confirmed as the first woman and 29th chairman of the SEC in January, taking a pay cut from her previous post as head of the FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. She served as an SEC commissioner from 1988 to 1994, through the presidencies of Reagan, Bush senior and Clinton, who later appointed her chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Since her selection, Schapiro has been working to restore public confidence in the SEC by increasing market transparency and fighting insider trading and rampant Ponzi schemes.

Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health&Human Services
U.S.
Sebelius assumed the post of Health and Human Services secretary in April. The former Kansas governor who called for universal health coverage is pushing for the same coverage on a national level. "There's a general recognition that the status quo is simply unsustainable," she has stated. She spent nearly $1 billion to purchase additional ingredients for a potential swine flu vaccine. She was a Kansas House member and served two terms as the state's elected insurance commissioner before winning the first of her two terms as governor in 2002; last year, she was reported to be on Obama's short-list for vice president.

Ellen Alemany
Chief executive, RBS Americas and Citizens Financial Group
U.S.
Alemany survived a rough year in banking at the helm of Royal Bank of Scotland's Americas division. After the corporate parent lost $34 billion last year, Sir Fred Goodwin, who wooed Alemany from a 20-year career at Citigroup, was forced out, and RBS is now majority-owned by the U.K. government. Alemany, who is part of the corporate restructuring team, hopes to turn the tide on her turf by growing Citizens Financial Group. Recent reports of Alemany's potential bonus—5.9 million shares worth $4 million at present prices if targets are met over the next three years—are causing discussions over executive compensation. She's a member of the Federal Advisory Council, which advises the Federal Reserve.

Susan Ivey
Chief executive, Reynolds American
U.S.
Now may not be the best time to helm a tobacco company. Recession-plagued states are raising taxes, penny-conscious smokers are cutting back and RJ Reynolds, Reynolds' American's subsidiary, slashed 570 jobs in 2008. Nonetheless, Ivey has maintained the company's market share, and the company has consistently beat analysts' expectations. While the stock fell 39% over 2008, it's still risen 33% since her post-merger takeover in 2004. So has her compensation—it's up to $8.8 million, from $7.9 million in 2007. An avid reader, Ivey devours suspense and crime novels in her spare time.

Amy Pascal
Cochairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment
U.S.
Pascal is the only woman running a major studio and is one of the industry's longest-running and most successful studio executives. Despite the current economy, every film released by Screen Gems and Columbia Picture was profitable. This year, Pascal has continued her winning streaks with such films as Paul Blart Mall Cop and Angels and Demons, from "Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown. Those two titles alone have grossed more than $650 million worldwide. Current kitchen-centered release Julie and Julia is winning raves for Meryl Streep's performance as renowned chef Julia Child.