Taking a "look at the key women who are shaping Asia's political and economic landscape" on the occasion of 100th International Women's Day, the CNN's list is headed by China's "Paper Queen" Zhang Yin.

Indra Nooyi, in the second place, "lords over some 185,000 corporate minions in close to 200 countries", notes CNN. "Nooyi's hard-as-nails leadership and her sense of fun (one-time lead guitarist in an all-girls rock band still performs regularly at corporate functions) has earned her spots on many 'best leader' lists in the US," it adds.

"Converted Indian Sonia Gandhi's story reads like a soap opera," says CNN of the third-placed Italy born president of the Indian National Congress and chairperson of ruling United Progressive Alliance.

"Born Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in Italy, she met future husband and Indian political aristocrat Rajiv Gandhi at Cambridge and tied the knot four years later. Rajiv became India's prime minister but was assassinated in 1991.

"Years later (Sonia) Gandhi entered politics as a primary member of the Congress before rising through the ranks to become party leader in 1998. Under her leadership, the Congress become the Lok Sabha's single largest political party."