Kathleen Kennedy is the venerable Hollywood producer and Lucasfilm co-chair who is leading the "Star Wars" film franchise into the future.
Ava DuVernay is the Golden Globe-winning director of "Selma." She created the African American Film Festival Releasing Movement collective and has helped shepherd numerous projects for and by people of color.
Artist Yoko Ono is the widow of Beatle John Lennon. This fall, she's expected to create the world's largest human peace sign in Central Park to commemorate what would have been her late husband's 75th birthday.
Mellody Hobson is the savvy businesswoman who rose from intern to president of Chicago-based money management firm Ariel Investments. Sheryl Sandberg told Vanity Fair that a comment from Hobson was the inspiration for her game-changing book, "Lean In."
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdYao Chen has been called the Angelina Jolie of China. With 71 million followers on Weibo (the Chinese equivalent of Twitter), the actress uses her influence for charity and social good.
Patti Smith is the 68-year-old artist, songwriter, and lightning rod for multiple generations of rock. She holds a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a National Book Award, and the prestigious Polar Music Prize.
Tavi Gevinson created a wildly popular fashion blog, Style Rookie, at the age of 12. Since then, she's started her own magazine, modeled in fashion campaigns, and acted alongside the late James Gandolfini.
Born into poverty, Russian beauty Natalia Vodianova once told the Wall Street Journal that she "used to sell fruit on the street in minus-25-degree Celsius weather, outside in the open air, for 12 hours straight." Today she is the world's third highest-paid model and the founder of the Naked Heart Foundation, a children's charity in Russia.
Triumphing in the face of injuries and obstacles, Serena Williams holds 21 Grand Slam titles. She's a fierce competitor and an incredible role model for young women and aspiring athletes.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdAmy Schumer is the "it" girl of the year. Her fearless Comedy Central show has won a Peabody Award and several Emmys, and now she's making the leap to movies and books.