25. Claire Watts

CEO, U.S., QVC

On Watts’ watch, QVC’s U.S. growth expanded 3.2% over the previous year to $5.6 billion. Her focus on interactive programming led to QVC’s ecommerce business expanding by 10% in Q4, 2012, propelled by mobile growth. That period also witnessed QVC’s biggest sales week in the channel’s history last November. Over the past year, Watts also saw gains through QVC’s 2012 acquisition of Send the Trend website, as well as its more recent purchase of technology platform Oodle. Watts also finds the next big thing through QVC’s Sprouts competition, which finds tomorrow’s inventors and entrepreneurs, and she thrives on developing a strong team. “Listening to an individual’s aspirations, studying their skill set, and helping them find success through the right career path is thrilling to me,” she says.

There are different ways to define success in the workplace. One important area for me is to continue to learn. You will never have all the answers. The minute you think you do, you will fail. Our industry is seeing a speed of change that is unprecedented, and to really be successful you have to be committed to learning and staying curious.