Ambitous Women, Ambitious Woman, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Reese Witherspoon

The results are in! 2006 was a year to remember and a year when women once again made history. From ground breaking politicians to a Hollywood actress, here are your picks for Ambitious Women of the year.

Ambitous Woman: Nancy Pelosi
Voted the winner by a politically aware 47%!


Be it because of her commitment to defending reproductive rights or her dedication to making college and healthcare more affordable, this year Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House. (Which, by the way, makes her second in the presidential line of successions.) It’s an accomplishment we could only dream of, but after taking a look at Pelosi’s high-powered political career, it isn’t that surprising. She’s been reelected with landslide victories since becoming the Representative for California’s 8th district in 1987. She has worked to fund and expedite the development of an HIV vaccine, fought for energy independence and proven that she isn’t afraid to play hardball politics as the House Minority Leader—leading the opposition to the war in Iraq and pushing to reverse Bush’s tax cuts. Agree with her politics or not, she’s broken barriers for women everywhere, and for that she gets our vote.


Ambitous Woman: Katie Couric
25% of survey takers voted for our new nightly newscaster.


After almost two decades on the air, Katie Couric has become one of broadcast journalism’s most recognizable personalities, and this year her hard work paid off as she was named the first female to anchor a network evening newscast. Unlike most celebs, she remains relatable and down to earth; she’s a mom, a wife and someone who’s not afraid to ask tough questions. When she’s not working at her new gig on CBS’s Evening News, she’s raising awareness through The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, which she founded in 1999 after losing her husband to the disease. She continues to generate an ever-growing fan base, touching lives on a daily basis through her journalism and advocacy. We suspect that Katie won’t be stopping anytime soon.