Jennifer Li

Li, a GM alum who joined China’s internet search giant in 2008, is sometimes compared to Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg. The Chief Financial Officer, who has also pitched in with M&A, marketing and HR roles, encourages women to be ambitious in their careers. As Baidu’s No. 2, she has helped guide the company to tremendous growth; in 2015, a tough year for most Chinese companies, revenues increased 32% and profits by 150%, to $10.6 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. 2016 has posed greater challenges: Baidu recently reported a dramatic decline in quarterly profits after a government probe prompted stricter regulation of its medical and health advertising. Li also serves on the board of Philip Morris International.