many thought only men rule the corporate world. she has proved otherwise. she's the woman behind the success of e-Bay, the new virtual marketplace. she's sharp and very capable. the company's CEO since 1998 and she's handling the business with utmost expertise. the success of e-Bay shows that she has a vision for a new kind of company. and she has set the standard for a new knid of CEO. (by krawcheck, a colleague)

oprah, a woman who defeated poverty, bias and self-doubt by taking orders from no one, talking to famous icons, presidents, celebrities and unknown activists as equals. millions of people around the world watch her show. who couldn't possibly know her? an empathetic and street-smart human being who brings an unmatched range of people and information into our lives.  
"her appeal can be traced to this creation of a living and breathing example of real-- and rare-- democracy. while the rest of the media focus on pro-con shouting matches and problems, but not solutions, Oprah brings us the hard truths of life as well as the evidence for change.." ----by gloria steinem, founder of Ms. mmagazine.

during an economic forum, lubna olayan's veil slipped off during her speech, and she continued without covering up. local religious figures and media condemned her. one of the top business leaders in Saudi Arabia, olayan has long displayed a quiet courage. despite constraints on women in the workplace, she continues to break down barriers.  
olayan, according to prince alwaleed bin talal al-saud, tends to downplay her positive impact on perceptions of arab women's roles. but wherever she goes, she's a star. she reminds everyone that saudi women are capable of running not only the house but also major companies. it is in no small measure thanks to her that the advancement of women in Saudi Arabia is finally reaching a point of no return.

'she has been called everything from a communist to an intellectual to an iconoclast, yet Miccia Prada has provoked and influenced colleagues for years with her eccentric and highly personal sensibility. she has done remarkably well in taking over what was then her grandfather's dusty luggage company. the company that bears her family's name is now a $2 billion conglomerate. and more than a financial success, Prada is an engine of ideas, most of which is counter to age-old adage that sex-and only sex- sells.' -by kate betts

she recently became the top solo sailor in the world. she claimed the distinction on February 7 last year with her extraordinary 71 days 14 hour 18 min 33 sec solo round-the-world record. here was someone who was younger than the other competitors in a sport in which experience is key, who was petite in a sport that emphasizes brawniness for the heavy work of changing sails, and who was a female.  
she is a heady example for young females, demonstrating that it is possible to learn and excel at a difficult and very physical sport. her success was based not on innate talent but on hard work and aspiration. macArthur is an inspiration for women throughout the world to pursue their dreams of success against the odds.

she started out as a human-rights lawyer in Ireland, fighting for changes that were controversial; women on juries and legal contraceptions. she became the first woman and liberal irish president winning the approval ratings of more than 90%.she's campaigning for equitable trade with developing countries, to prod global companies to follow human-rights codes and counteract the idea that curtailing civil rights helps fight terrorism. she believes in law as a civilizing force-has a knack for practical solutions.

her greatest achievement has been to show her fellow Kenyans that the health of their forests and rivers and field matters -- for both Africa's future and the people's immediate well-being. Maathai began her crusade in 1977 when she founded the Grren Belt Movement. her first victory was to stop Kenya's ruling party from building an office tower on part of a Nairobi City park. it was the first of many run-ins with the oppressive government of Daniel arap Moi, which had her arrested, imprisoned and even beaten up by hired thugs. yet maathai and her followers. most of them poor women, stuck to their task and have planted more than 30 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking. the first woman in central africa to earn a Ph.D.,maathai was elected to parliament in 2002 and last year became the first environmental campaigner - and first african woman- to win the Nobel Peace Prize, for her "contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace."