Time Influential: Maria das Gracas Silva Foster

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Maria das Gracas Silva Foster

Calling this chemical engineer one of the most powerful women in the world is an understatement. The 58-year-old is the first woman to be the head of an oil-and-gas company as CEO of Brazil's Petrobras. As the Time article explains, “Her tireless work habits earned her the nickname Caveirao, slang for the armored cars Brazilian police use to clear out slums.” Now that's a powerful Latina!

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