Marissa Mayer, Google's first female engineer, has helped develop such popular applications as Google Maps, Google Earth, and Street View in her current role as a senior executive for the search giant.

"People ask me a lot, 'What is it like to be a woman at Google?'" Marissa says. "But I'm not a woman at Google. I'm a geek at Google." This enthusiasm for coming up with new ways to improve people's lives through technology is the secret behind her success. At 36, Marissa has already made quite a name for herself: In 2008, she was the youngest woman on Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" list -- and her position has crept closer to the top every year since.

At home, she loves spending time in the kitchen, describing her personal technique as "baking with spreadsheet." Marissa's career advice: "Find something that you're passionate about and that you just love. Passion is really gender-neutralizing."

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