This year, Brazilian business tycoon Maria das Gra?as was named as the most powerful business woman in the world, according to the Fortune's 2012 Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.

The CEO of Petrobras, a Brazilian multinational energy corporation, surpassed last year's winner British businesswoman Cynthia Carroll who ranked third this time, and Gail Kelly from Australia who retained the second position this year.

The 2012 rankings included seven Chinese female business elites in total. Among them, four are from the Chinese mainland: Sun Yafang (18th), Dong Mingzhu (30th), Wang Fengying (36th) and Sun Wei (41st); two are from Hong Kong: Umran Beba (42nd) and Liu Yang (48th), and one is Taiwanese —Cher Wang (47th).

The following are the top ten elites according to Fortune's 2012 Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business:

   Marjorie Scardino

 Country: Britain

Age: 65

Company: Pearson

Title: CEO

2011 Rank: 3