The Rhodes Scholar has also built a successful law firm, which has grown from seven equity partners four years ago to 24 attorneys today. AGE: 36
SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS, Chairman & CEO BAD BOY ENTERTAINMENT
Why he’s hot: Sean “Diddy” Combs, the penultimate marketing machine, continues to bring hip-hop to the mainstream, deftly growing his empire that includes music, clothing, and television. Last year, his Bad Boy Record label entered into a multiyear joint venture with Warner Music Group, a transaction valued at roughly $30 million. Sean John, his apparel company, sold about $400 million in clothing—a figure that translates into $125 million to $150 million in wholesale revenues. And this year MTV announced a first-look production agreement with Bad Boy Entertainment, which produced the high-rated Making the Band reality series.
SUSAN CHAPMAN, Global Head of Operations CITIGROUP REALTY SERVICES
Why she’s hot: Susan Chapman holds the No. 2 spot in her business unit. Chapman manages day-to-day operations for 85 million square feet of space in 96 countries. To put these numbers into context, the No. 1 real estate investment trust in the country has 117 million square feet in the U.S. Essentially, her division manages all of the real estate that supports Citigroup’s businesses worldwide. “[Operating real estate involves] handling every
thing from policies and procedures to branch rollout to relationship management strategy,” she says. “If I didn’t have this job, I’d be bored, so I do the best I can, and give 100% on everything I do.” AGE: 37
TOURé CLAIBORNE, Director of Specialty Marketing SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Why he’s hot: As the director of specialty marketing at Sears, Roebuck and Co., Touré Claiborne is reinventing the Sears brand. In 2005, Claiborne extended the retailer’s relationship with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and led the marketing efforts between Sears, Ty Pennington, and Extreme Makeover Home: Edition on ABC. Since joining Sears in 2001, Claiborne has been promoted twice and is now responsible for six departments and approximately $660 million in financial responsibilities. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Claiborne came to Sears from DDB Worldwide advertising agency and currently serves on NASCAR’s Diversity Council. He is also the chairman of the Philadelphia-based Urban Youth Racing School. AGE: 36
Nicole E. Brown, Project Engineer MALCOLM PIRNIE INC.
Why she’s hot: Considered one of the world’s youngest and brightest environmental engineers, Nicole Brown is charged with managing New York City’s groundwater system. In her position, she’s been responsible for projects ranging from revamping the Big Apple’s water supply during the 2002 drought emergency to designing a system to pump water out of the ground and treat it for residential use. With a vast understanding of water treatment processes and design, Brown works with municipalities around the country to properly develop environmentally friendly systems. “The main thrust of my work for New York has been to evaluate existing conditions and design improvements of the city’s groundwater system,” she explains. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta with a degree in civil engineering,