Helena Morrissey

While her day job is helming a London firm managing $55 billion in assets, Morrissey is also leading the 30% Club, a campaign to make public company boards in the U.K. 30% female. By convincing (mostly male) chairmen that diverse boards produce superior shareholder returns, the charismatic mother of nine has made progress at home FTSE 100 boards are 24% female, vs. 13% in 2010. Shes now bringing her quest to the U.S., where board diversity has further to go.