Most Powerful Women

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Ellen Kullman

Key Speakers At The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Of The New Champions 2013
Ellen Kullman, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont Co., speaks during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Of The New Champions in Dalian, China, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. The forum, also known as "Summer Davos", runs from Sept. 11-13. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhoto by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg—Getty Images
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DuPont's share price was in a 10-year slump when Kullman took over in 2009. Since then, she's moved the 212-year-old company into higher-margin areas like nutrition, advanced materials, and bioscience. She sold the auto paints unit in 2013 and will shed performance chemicals like Teflon and Freon next year. Investors seem to like the moves: DuPont's market cap has more than doubled during her tenure.