50. Lynn Calpeter

A GE lifer (she's been with the company since 1986), Calpeter learned executive philosophy on the playing field (she's an avid golfer who was involved in student government at Cornell): "The notion of leadership and real performance was instilled in me at an early age," she says. As CFO she's in charge of overseeing the mammoth conglomerate's day-to-day ops as well as managing its financial risks, and this year films like "Mamma Mia!" "Wanted" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" helped push the division's profits up 10%. But it's not all about winning: At 34, Calpeter passed up a promotion to care for her father, who has multiple sclerosis.