#81 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Forbes: The World's Most Powerful Black Women Business Leaders 2012

Up from #87 on the list last year, Okonjo-Iweala heads the business affairs of Nigeria as the country’s chief financial diplomat.

Last year I suggested that perhaps Iweala had left her post at the World Bank for political posturing. This year she was short-listed for World Bank leader. The sky’s the limit for this political leader who possesses such a solid business and economic background.

(Photo by MYCHELE DANIAU/AFP/Getty Images)

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The World's Most... Forbes has listed the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2012.

Listed are the most powerful black women who, despite their unique backgrounds, have one thing in common: Business Leadership.

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

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#7 First Lady Mi... The now 48-year-old First Lady Michelle Obama was once a “gutsy” 13-year-old Michelle Robinson who traveled for miles—scared and alone—from her Chicago home to attend the integrated high school Whitney Young, says her English teacher, Dagny Bloland, to biographer Liza Mundy.

It was the same “guts” that made Mrs. Obama leave a prestigious law firm job to become executive director of the nonprofit Public Allies that prepared young people for jobs within public service.

Years later, she now serves as the nation’s First Lady of public service, doing something that has never been done before for youth: hosting The First State Dinner For Children; which championed healthy eating among youth.

(Photo by Larry Marano/WireImage/Getty Images)

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#11 Oprah Winfre... In 2012, Ms. Winfrey still tops Forbes Highest-Paid Celebrities List. There’s only so much one can say about the woman who has transformed the face of the media, changed the scope of Daytime Talk Show TV, showcased the downtrodden and been a beacon of hope for African Americans and women.

This time the media mogul is also a startup entrepreneur at OWN, with her recently talked-about product being Oprah’s Next Chapter—“in depth conversations with newsmakers, celebrities, thought leaders and real-life families.”

(Photo by Heather Wines/CBS via Getty Images)

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#17 Ursula Burns... In 1980, she was a summer mechanical engineering intern at the Xerox Corporation. In 2009, Burns became its chief executive—making her the first black woman to run a major U.S. corporation. In 2011, Fortune ranked her #8 on its 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list.

(Photo by David Becker/WireImage/Getty Images)

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#32 Beyoncé Know... Being the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” was not the only new accomplishment for Beyoncé. This year, Beyoncé had her first child, Blue Ivy, and just a few months after, the businesswoman and singer was “Back To Business” with a four-night, sold-out concert.

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images For BET)

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#50 Rosalind Bre... Just this year, Brewer made history as chief business leader of Sam’s Club; which makes her the first African American and woman to hold the position of CEO at one of Wal-Mart’s business units.

Brewer also sits on the Board of Trustees at Spelman College, where “investing in the education of African-American women” is a personal interest of hers, she says.

(AP Photo/Wal-Mart Strores Inc.)

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#52 Helene Gayle... Helene Gayle dives headfirst into issues that affect women and girls around the world. As CEO of Care USA, Helene Gayle is overseer of the organization’s day-to-day business matters, championing the fight for global poverty by directing programs to tackle issues which help further global poverty: Such as malnutrition, maternal mortality and AIDS.

(Photo by Terrence Jennings/Sipa Press/Newscom)

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#69 Ertharin Cou... The twelfth Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme started her career within social services, and even entered the world of politics, serving as White House Liaison for the Clinton Administration in 1994.

Today, Ertharin Cousin leads the day-to-day business affairs of the world’s largest humanitarian agency; fighting hunger in Africa, The Americas, Asia and the Middle East.

(Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Chicago Tribune/MCT/Newscom)

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#71 President Jo... President Banda, Malawi’s first female president and the founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation International, recently told BBC News Africa that she views business as a tool of empowerment:

“I am a servant of the people,” she said. “My mission in life is to assist women and youth, gain social and political empowerment through business and education.”

(Photo by Sudarsan Raghavan/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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#81 Ngozi Okonjo... Up from #87 on the list last year, Okonjo-Iweala heads the business affairs of Nigeria as the country’s chief financial diplomat.

Last year I suggested that perhaps Iweala had left her post at the World Bank for political posturing. This year she was short-listed for World Bank leader. The sky’s the limit for this political leader who possesses such a solid business and economic background.

(Photo by MYCHELE DANIAU/AFP/Getty Images)

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Ten Female Millionaires To Watch In Africa
The 10 Greatest Living Business Leaders In Africa Today
The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
#82 President El... Down a few spots on the list this year, the President of Liberia also faced a challenging reelection year. A 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and a women empowerment advocate, President Sirleaf has an expansive business and economic background, having had leadership roles in the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and Citibank.

(Photo via Newscom)

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Ten Female Millionaires To Watch In Africa
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
#90 Risa Lavizzo... The first woman and African American to act as President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the business-educated Mourey oversees millions of dollars in grant money that goes toward improving health care.

(Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)

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Ten Female Millionaires To Watch In Africa
The 10 Greatest Living Business Leaders In Africa Today
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
More from Forbes Click here to see all of the world's 100 most powerful women.

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