The Most Powerful Women Of The Channel

Mentor: Morris says there have been many mentors over the years and they all showed "patience, listening and counseling." She also says she learned from them that "you make your own career; no one else will do it for you."

Executives You Admire: Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, is impacting many fronts. Morris says she admires her "vision, views on corporate responsibility and confidence."

Mentor: Moser says she's been fortunate to have many mentors, beginning with her father. Many of the managers and executives she has worked for became advisors and mentors, she says.

Executives You Admire: Many of those whom Moser admires many not have widely known names but they accomplish great things within their own companies, she says.

Mentor: Two who have influenced her the most: Dave O'Callaghan, worldwide distribution at Cisco, who is an "inspirational leader, great resource--and he keeps the customer, his people and ethics/integrity front and center." Neslund also notes Caroline Turner, former General Counsel at Coors, who she says helped her learn how the "create healthy cultures by valuing diversity and inclusivity."

Executives You Admire: Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic

Mentor: Norris says she's been lucky to have many mentors, some men, some women, and not all in the industry. She says it's important to look for "situational mentors," someone who may have experience in an area of interest, however formal or informal the relationship.

Executives You Admire: Norris says she admires people who may not have the resume one would expect but have used "intelligence, heart, fine-tuned instincts and hard work to get where they are." She also looks up to those who create new approaches and are open to others' ideas no matter their position in the company.

Mentor: O'Neill gives the nod to her mother, saying she taught her so many things while she was growing up. It wasn't what her mother learned working for a big corporation, it was what she lived every day that were the lessons. Here's a few of the values she says she learned: "Cherish every moment. Be beautiful. Take care of yourself. Never underestimate the power of trust. Be open, be honest. There is almost nothing that communication can't solve. Believe in yourself and learn from your mistakes. Respect those around you, they may be able to teach you something. Ask for help. You can't always be a yes girl and expect to live a balanced life." To this day, O'Neill says, her mother is still a best friend.

Executives You Admire: Meg Whitman, former president and CEO of eBay, who leveraged the power of technology changed the landscape of how we market and purchase over the Internet; David Meerman Scott, former vice president of marketing and Newsedge Corp. and now an online thought leadership and viral marketing strategist; Debra Condren, Ph.D., author of am*BITCH*ous, a psychologist, business and executive coach and career adviser and the founder and director of the Women-s Business Alliance; Michael Haines, director of worldwide channels for Microsoft and formerly a Gartner analyst--"a coach, mentor and dear friend."

Mentor: Tom Gammon, MicroAge and Mike Wlotzko, Panasonic

Executives You Admire: O'Neil says she admires all the women executives who manage to do a great job, have a family and a home life. "I'm still working on it," she says.