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Irene Rosenfeld, 55

Kraft Foods, Inc./Bloomberg News

Irene Rosenfeld, 55

CEO, Kraft Foods Northfield, Ill.

When commodity values soared, she kept profits high by raising prices while spending more on advertising. Kraft also replaced AIG in the Dow Jones industrial average.

Best decision: “My move to lead Kraft Canada in 1996 was a terrific growth opportunity. All my direct reports were very experienced men who had never worked for a woman before. The team was not wild about Americans either…. I really learned the difference between managing and leading.”

Great book: Games Mother Never Taught You, by Betty Lehan Harragan. “It opened my eyes to the politics of corporate life.”