Females make inroads into conducting
Two decades ago, a small cadre of vibrant young artists were beginning to breach the conductor gender gap. Foremost among them was Marin Alsop (left), a fantastically vibrant protegee of Leonard Bernstein who in 2007 became artistic director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and who the same year was the first conductor to win a MacArthur "genius" grant.

• Alumni update

IMPACT PLAYERS REVERBERATE

It's been a banner year for many femmes on a number of entertainment and media fronts, with some of the best-reviewed movies -- "The Hurt Locker," "Bright Star," "Julie and Julia" -- helmed by women, and such executives as Paramount marketing mavens Madeline Herdrich and LeeAnne Stables seizing the upper hand in a marketplace fractured by rapidly evolving technology, short attention spans and countless consumer options.

These are just a few of the professionals we celebrate below. And they’re just the tip of the iceberg …

— Steve Chagollan, Assistant Managing Editor, Features
LIFETIME IMPACT HONOREES:
What: Variety's inaugural Power of Women luncheon
When: Thursday - 11:30 a.m. VIP reception; noon luncheon and awards ceremony; 1:30 p.m. charity bazaar
Where: Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Maria Bello
Maria Bello
The actress addresses genocide and women's rights in Darfur
Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
For the pop singer, world hunger is of paramount importance
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate
A breast cancer survivor, the 'Samantha Who?' star rallies to help others
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway
First-time Oscar nominee is dedicated to Service
January Jones
January Jones
'Mad Men's' Betty Draper views oceans as life's wellspring
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Multiplatform actress throws weight behind nonprofit theater
Laura Ziskin & Sherry Lansing
Laura Ziskin & Sherry Lansing
Pioneering studio exec, producer fight against cancer
Jane Lynch
Mistress of Ceremonies
Jane Lynch's comic chops are nonpareil



For the 12th year, Variety trains the spotlight on 50 pros who experienced an extraordinary year, raised the bar in their discipline and changed perceptions of femmes in the industry.
CLASS ACTORS:
Italy
Tina Fey
Emmy winner's take on Palin makes for baked Alaska
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway
Dates with Oscar and the Bard make hers a Cinderella story
Sophie Marceau
Sophie Marceau
Life's lessons give the French screen siren an aura of 'relatable' experience
Alice Ripley
Alice Ripley
A gift for musical theater with the complexity of Ibsen
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
The sixth time's the charm for a perennial Oscar contender drawn to challenge
Karen Olivo
Karen Olivo
In a role that made Chita Rivera a legend, this firebrand made Anita her own creation

CREATIVES:
Ann Biderman
Ann Biderman
Scripter proves testosterone, character not mutually exclusive
Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn Bigelow
Cult action director delivers most acclaimed Iraq war film yet
Jane Campion
Jane Campion
New Zealand filmmaker celebrates language, love and resurgence with 'Bright Star'
Catherine Hardwicke
Catherine Hardwicke
Maestro of teen angst helmed hottest new franchise of 2008
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron
She combines foodie sensibility, adult sophistication

BELOW THE LINERS:
Janie Bryant
Janie Bryant
Kennedy-era creations reverberate through the fashion world
Catherine Marie Thomas
Catherine Marie Thomas
Achieving flamboyance without lapsing into caricature
Loveleen Tandan
Loveleen Tandan
Casting director served as 'Slumdog's' cultural compass

POWER SUITS:
Orly Adelson
Orly Adelson
Recharging and expanding an iconic brand
Deborah Borda
Deborah Borda
Advancing the arts during a time of shrinking budgets
Angela Bromstad
Angela Bromstad
Restoring the Peacock net's pre-eminent perch a tall order for this exec
Ann Daly
Ann Daly & Anne Globe
DreamWorks Animation execs hone their 'Kung Fu' skill set
Mich Chau
Mich Chau
Top-level exec emerges from Lucas' shadow
Elizabeth Daley
Elizabeth Daley
Film school dean refuses to rest on her laurels
Kathryn Fink
Kathryn Fink
Rupe's lieutenant establishes beachhead in Italo TV
Bonnie Hammer
Bonnie Hammer
Cable queen is a straight shooter who relies on team spirit
Amanda Ghost
Amanda Ghost
The multitasker goes from penning hit songs to spearheading a major label
Stacey Snider
Stacey Snider
DreamWorks partner helps negotiate a new chapter for the mini-major
Madeline Herdrich
Madeline Herdrich
Pioneering exec conquers digital realm
Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer
Google gatekeeper is at the forefront of monumental change
Nina Tassler
Nina Tassler
Exec steers Eye net to ratings gold with dignity intact
LeeAnne Stables
LeeAnne Stables
Product tie-in whiz brings new meaning to brand loyalty
Nancy Utley
Nancy Utley
After an Oscar triumph, marketing guru ascends to the top
Lifetime execs
Andrea Wong, JoAnn Alfano & Nina Lederman
Lifetime's power trio extends the brand

TALKING HEADS:
Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour
CNN's int'l reporter takes on her own show
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Former radio talkshow host emerges into marquee name for MSNBC

POP THRUSHES:
Duffy
Duffy
Welsh singer trumps U.K. heavyweights
Beyonce
Beyonce
Star of Obama's inaugural ball lives up to her 'Sasha Fierce' moniker
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga
Glam chameleon and fashion provocateur takes slowburn route to chart success
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
'The Voice' overcomes adversity to reclaim her place among diva pantheon
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
'Fearless' country music crossover sensation is living proof that nice gals finish first

LEGIT'S LEADING LIGHTS:
Sonia Friedman
Sonia Friedman
London-based producer expands into trans-Atlantic territory
Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottage
Exploring characters on the margins
Diane Paulus
Diane Paulus
After reviving the Age of Aquarius on Broadway, director dives into nonprofit realm

HANDLERS:
Lorrie Bartlett
Lorrie Bartlett
Catapulting rising stars into the movie stratosphere
Evelyn O'Neill
Suzan Bymel & Evelyn O'Niell
Management 360 partners parlay their clients' megastar wattage into conscientious causes
Tracey Jacobs
Tracey Jacobs
UTA closer breaks the glass ceiling by landing on the agency's six-member board
Beth Swofford
Beth Swofford
With clients Mendes, Daldry and McQueen, agent places accent on prestige
Debbee Klein
Debbee Klein
Paradigm's dynamo clicks with TV's top showrunners
Jennifer Rudolph Walsh
Jennifer Rudolph Walsh
WME handler's knack for bestselling talent is uncanny

LEGAL EAGLES:
Jeanne Newman
Jeanne Newman
This big-time negotiator has raised the already high stakes of reality TV
Susan Zuckerman Williams
Susan Zuckerman Williams
Marrying finance with movies has become second nature to the USC Law School grad

PUBLISHING MAVENS:
Carrie Kania
Carrie Kania
Tapping into the Web-savvy zeitgeist, pub bigwig has become the new It girl
Martha Nelson
Martha Nelson
Driving Time Inc.'s most profitable brands during trying times for mags


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