Laura Petrou

As chief of staff to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Petrou works behind the scenes to keep the secretary’s office running and advance Sebelius' agenda. That means overseeing a $70 billion department, while at the same time trying to steer historic health-care reform legislation through Congress. Petrou is known for her excellent management skills and her vast connections on Capitol Hill. Though she’s not a health- policy expert, she had plenty of exposure to the issue during nearly two decades working for former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). Petrou is one of a handful of top Daschle lieutenants still well-positioned in the Obama administration, despite Daschle having to drop his nomination for HHS secretary because of unpaid taxes.