Melinda Gates, married to Bill Gates, former chief executive officer and current chairman of Microsoft

Melinda Gates can be reckoned as the ultimate power partner in the tech industry. In her younger years, she earned both undergrad and MBA degrees from Duke University as well as a MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business. Moving on, Melindate Gates joined Microsoft where she participating in developing well-known products like the Encarta encyclopedia and the Expedia booking tool.

It was while working in Microsoft that she met her husband to be, Bill Gates. Since then, Melinda has been heading the couple's Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which has earned a reputation as one of the world's most powerful philanthropic organisations.