Age: 42
Occupation: President and executive creative director of J. Crew
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
When retail sales plunged in the thick of the recession, J. Crew saw double-digit revenue growth, with its brand skyrocketing in popularity. Jenna Lyons has been at the helm of the retailer's turnaround, overseeing a change to a more sophisticated design aesthetic and creating colorful collections that has earned a loyal following of "Crewaholics." That success has been aided, in no small part, by First Lady Michelle Obama, who has worn J. Crew for numerous appearances, from Late Show with David Letterman to the pages of Vogue.