Co-founder and Chairwoman of Prodea Systems, Inc.. Her previous business accomplishments include serving as co-founder and CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc.

The Ansari family is also the title sponsor of the Ansari X Prize. On September 18, 2006, just a few days after her 40th birthday, she became the first female space tourist, the first female Muslim, and first Iranian in space.

Why she is important: She lives by her watch-words, “Imagine, be the change, and inspire.”