#9 Padmasree Warrior

Rank 58

Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Cisco Systems

As Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at the largest maker of computer-networking gear, Warrior is responsible for all deals activity as one of the most acquisitive firms in technology reconfigures its business strategy. She took this role in June, after serving five years as CTO. Some insiders hinted that she's being groomed for the top spot. CEO John Chambers has said that Cisco is actively working on succession planning. Before joining Cisco in 2007, she was CTO at Motorola. The engineer is a prolific tweeter: the executive has over 1.4 million followers and she keeps them up to date on company milestones, industry trends and cute pictures of her family.

#8 Cher Wang

Rank 56

Co-founder and Chair, HTC

As the co-founder and chairman of HTC, Wang's had a rough year. Her company faced a financial hit and a stiff competition and patent wars with Apple and Samsung. Second quarter financial results show HTC revenues down 50% year-over-year and her family fortune gone down by $3 billion. But at the company's 15th anniversary celebration she said that HTC isn't afraid of challenges. The company mantra for 2012 seems just as buoyant: "Only the Street worries for us. We're not worried for ourselves." Cher Wang, the daughter of the late Taiwanese business icon Y.C. Wang, stepped into the political fray in Taiwan's presidential election in January by endorsing the China policy of the ruling Nationalist Party.