Worlds Most Powerful Black Women 2006

Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica

The Forbes 100 most powerful women in the world is based on a power ranking that is the composite of visibility (measured by press citations) and economic impact. The later, in turn, reflects three things: résumé (a prime minister is more powerful than a senator); the size of the economic sphere over which a leader holds sway; and a multiplier that aims to make different financial yardsticks comparable.

The highest ranked of these seven women is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 51, one of U.S. President George W. Bush closest advisers and America's top diplomat. Rice has been ranked the most powerful woman for the previous two years but dropped to the No.2 position this year behind Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel.

The next black woman on the list is Oprah Winfrey, at No. 14 with an estimated net worth of over $1 billion, an Academy Award nomination, an Emmy-winning hit television show, successful magazines ( O, The Oprah Magazine, along with O at Home) and a cable channel (Oxygen Media, which she co-founded), Winfrey is an international media phenomenon.

At No. 27 is Renetta McCann, CEO of Starcom MediaVest, a media communications agency. McCann heads up the U.S. and Canadian operations for one of the world's top five media agencies. Her company buys about $18 billion a year in media time for companies like Coca-Cola and General Motors.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first female president, holds the No. 51 position. A longtime politician, Sirleaf, 66, now has to contend with putting her country back together after a 14-year civil war that left the capital Monrovia in near ruins. She must also deal with government mismanagement that has all but destroyed Liberia's economy.

At No. 62 is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's Minster of Foreign Affairs. Okonjo-Iweala, 52, a former World Bank official and economist, is known for her prudent debt management and calls for fiscal discipline. Okonjo-Iweala led the negotiations that resulted in cancellation of nearly two-thirds, $18 billion, of Nigeria's $30 billion Paris Club debt, the second largest debt cancellation in the Paris Club's 30-year history.

Luisa Diogo, Prime Minister of Mozambique is at No. 83. Diogo, 48, has become increasingly vocal in taking rich nations to task for not following up on aid, trade and debt relief promises to Africa. Diogo has won kudos for helping turn around one of the world's poorest countries.

The last black woman on the list is Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Miller is Jamaica's first female prime minister and  was elected in February 2006 as the candidate of the People's National Party. Simpson Miller is a longtime government official who formerly oversaw tourism, labor, community development, local government and social security affairs for the island.