fund coverage group that focuses across a spectrum of equity and debt products. Her division has contributed millions of dollars to her firm’s revenues. A graduate of the University of Michigan who joined Merrill Lynch roughly 14 years ago as an analyst, Ellis-Simon was the first African American woman to be named managing director in Merill Lynch’s investment banking division. Her prowess and shrewd investment decisions earned her the distinction of being named one of be’s 75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street. She also plays a major role in diversifying the industry as head of the Equity Markets Diversity Initiative, a member of her firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, and co-founder of the Global Markets & Investment Banking Women’s Leadership Council.
Njema Frazier. Physicist / National Nuclear Security Administration / 37. Why she’s hot: Frazier oversees and coordinates the weapons simulation and modeling activities of three Department of Energy defense laboratories. If you remember the 1983 movie WarGames, Frazier’s job is to ensure world-altering mistakes don’t happen. As U.S. defense programs shift from “test-based” initiatives at nuclear test sites to “simulation-based” programs, Frazier analyzes and predicts the performance, safety, and reliability of nuclear weapons. The NNSA is also responsible for protecting nuclear propulsion plants, promoting international nuclear safety, and reducing worldwide dangers from weapons of mass destruction. Frazier received her Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Michigan State University in 1997, conducting her doctoral research at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab in East Lansing, Michigan.
Sean “The Pen” Garrett. Songwriter, Music Producer / 29. Why he’s hot: Garrett’s the go-to songwriter when artists are looking for hits. He adopted his moniker after he penned and co-wrote a multitude of Billboard chart toppers. He helped Usher say “Yeah,” made Chris Brown “Run It,” and pushed the Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons.” Not to mention the hit maker wrote six tracks on Beyoncé’s B-Day album, including “Ring The Alarm.” Garrett has worked with a cadre of the top R&B, hip-hop, and pop artists including Ciara, Nelly, Fantasia, Fergie, and Gwen Stefani. All ears now await Garrett’s debut solo album.
Magnus Greaves. Founder / Doubledown Media / 33. Why he’s hot: Greaves ended his career as a futures trader and co-founder of MacFutures Limited, a London-based trading company, to become a media mogul. When Greaves cashed out in 2003, selling MacFutures to Refco Group Ltd. L.L.C. for $50 million, he says the capital “gave me the opportunity to launch the magazines.” In 2004, Greaves started Doubledown Media, which began publishing Trader Monthly, a publication that targets the investment trading community he was so familiar with. And his company has been steadily adding to its publishing portfolio. In 2005, Doubledown partnered with Condé Nast to unveil a European edition of Trader. Then he put Dealmaker, a publication for the mergers and acquisition set, on the newsstands in 2006 and acquired Private Air magazine, a publication geared toward private aviators, in early 2007 for a reported $2.5 million to $3 million. Doubledown launched two new publications in 2007: Corporate Leader and The Cigar Report.