Barbara Rentler

Ross Stores thrived in a competitive retail environment last year, with sales up 8%, to nearly $12 billion, and profits that passed the $1 billion threshold for the first time. The press-shy Rentler has kept the momentum going. In the most recent quarter, the company beat expectations and upped its guidance. Rentler opened 84 new stores in the company’s fiscal 2015 and has 90 in the pipeline this year. With some 1,500 locations today between its two brands, dd’s Discounts and Ross Dress for Less, she thinks she can eventually get to 2,500.