Steve Ballmer
CEO, Microsoft
As the CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer is automatically one of the most powerful forces in the digital world. But his larger-than-life personality and passion for his company’s products have made him a force for years, no matter what title he has held. Clips of his rousing, rowdy speeches at Microsoft sales meetings were a staple of Web video long before anyone had heard of YouTube. What those clips don’t reveal, however, is the serious, thoughtful, strategic executive behind the persona. He can fill six feet of whiteboard at the speed of light. And he will need to be smart. While Microsoft finally got Windows Vista out the door since D last convened, the company has actually lost ground to Google in search and advertising. It faces a growing threat from Web applications that might shake its dominance of the office. Meanwhile, its first music player, the Zune, had no effect on Apple’s iPod juggernaut, and it is squaring off for another battle with Apple over connecting the TV to digital media.
