Meg Whitman

HP is about 18 months through a five year turnaround. Or so Whitman tells investors and the media every chance she gets. She s been tasked with getting HP past its self made troubles and growing again. Her first year was rocky: big layoffs, big write offs, a near revolt of shareholders over the botched $11 billion acquisition of Autonomy. But she is slowly winning over investors, customers, employees. Next up: She has to deliver real revenue growth, and soon. Powerful people, like board member Marc Andreessen, are convinced she will.