1. Moms
Don’t get us wrong — dads are a key part of family life, with many more involved in parenting than ever before. But (and this probably won’t surprise you) research shows that mothers still handle the bulk of family decisions.
According to surveys, Mom, 85 percent of you control your household’s spending; the same number of you choose your children’s doctor. And mothers make up 90 percent of the local PTA (though the presence of dads is growing). You are fitting this all in despite the fact that the number of moms who work outside the home has shot up to 71.6 percent from 47.4 percent four decades ago. Whew!
The 9 other influencers:
- Harvey Karp
- Steve Jobs
- Heidi Murkoff
- Arne Duncan
- John Lasseter
- Michelle Obama
- Daniel Goleman
- Lisa Belkin
- Denis Hayes
Photo: Seth Smoot
Wardrobe styling: Annie; Nicholas/Ennis Inc.
Hair and makeup: Gigi Gommers/Ford artists