Janet Yellen, Chair, US Federal Reserve

The US Federal Reserve’s first female chief walked into the job with a mammoth task ahead of her. With the economy seemingly running out of fiscal tools to encourage growth, few envied her the charge of reigniting a country on the brink. Despite the size of her undertakings, Yellen was clear in her decision to focus on job growth and strengthening unemployment markets. By all accounts, her first year in the job has been a resounding success, and market makers have been confident in her ability to guide the US economy through choppy waters. Under Yellen’s stewardship, the Fed has regained its reputation as one of the most reliable central banking institutions in the world.