Yang Mianmian (楊綿綿)

Company: Haier Group (海爾集團)

Headquarters: Shandong

Main focus: Home appliances

Title: President

Age: 70

As co-founder and president of Haier Group, one of the world's leading makers of household appliances, Yang Mianmian is one of the most powerful businesswomen in the world. Yang has been associated with the company for almost 30 years, and is seen as 'Haier's rudder'.

In 2010, Haier ranked 47th on the 2011 Top 500 Chinese Companies list, rising 16 spots from the previous year. Haier's revenue has reached 140.53 billion yuan (US$22.11 billion), and achieved a profit of 4.52 billion yuan (US$712.39 million). The Haier brand holds the world's largest market share in white goods, with 6.1 percent last year.