Two Asian Americans in List of World’s Most Powerful Women

Indira Nooyi, chief executive at PepsiCo, ranks third in Forbes Magazine’s 2009 list of the world’s most powerful women.  Only one other Asian American makes it to the top 100; Andrea Jung, Avon’s chief executive, ranks 25th.¹

Indira Nooyi
Though 2008 revenues grew 10% from the year before and snack sales are holding, Nooyi has been struggling to revamp falling profits in PepsiCo's core beverage business. Focusing on innovation instead of acquisition, the company is debuting new product lines, targeted marketing and repackaging efforts in 2009. A re-launch of the energy drink Propel will advance Nooyi's plan to offer more healthful products to serve consumer demand. The group also launched a "Refresh Everything" campaign, featuring Pepsi Natural, made with all-natural ingredients, and Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback, inspired by designs of the 1960s and '70s. —Jenna Goudreau

Andrea Jung
Despite the down economy, Jung's leadership led Avon to report over $10 million in revenues for 2009. In the past year, Jung and Avon have partnered with actor Patrick Dempsey to create and promote a men's fragrance called "Patrick Dempsey Unscripted." Avon donated more than $5 million for earthquake victims in the Sichuan Province in China. Last spring, Avon donated $1.5 million to establish the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School to help combat violence against women. Jung, a Princeton grad, speaks fluent Chinese. —Chelsea Platt

The list includes ten other women from other Asian countries:

Rank
 5 – Ho Ching, Chief executive, Temasek (Singapore)
13 – Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress Party (India)
20 – Chanda Kochhar, Chief executive, ICICI Bank (India)
44 – Gloria Arroyo, President (Philippines)
72 – Sri Indrawati, Coordinating Minister for the Economy & Minister of Finance (Indonesia)
79 – Hasina Wajed, Prime minister (Bangladesh)
80 – Hyun Jeong-eun, Chairman, Hyundai Group (South Korea)
86 – Deb Henretta, Group president, Asia, Procter & Gamble (Singapore)
92 – Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman, Biocon (India)
93 – Eva Cheng, Executive vice president, Amway Greater China & Southeast Asia (Hong Kong)

The Forbes list includes women with household names in their respective areas or industries.  The ranking is based on the extent of press coverage one gets and the overall significance of each in relation to the organization they are managing.  Hence it's more about influence rather than popularity.

¹“The World's 100 Most Powerful Women”, Edited by Mary Ellen Egan and Chana R. Schoenberge, Forbes.com