Photograph by Matthew Worden.

Michelle Jaconi

Executive producer of CNN’s State of the Union With John King

“Michelle is this incredible package of smarts, passion, and confidence, which can be almost disarming coming from someone so tall, skinny, pretty, and blond. She has poise and grace, but she’s fun, too. She’ll wear big hats for no reason or colorful purses because she likes them—which is so not a Washington thing to do.”

—Chris Dorobek, anchor for Federal News Radio and government-technology blogger