Teresa Kellett, director of Sprint 4G - 2010 Top Women in Wireless

Teresa Kellett, a long-time Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) veteran (she started with the company just prior to its PCS network launch in 1996) is a very visible player in Sprint's 4G unit, which CEO Dan Hesse has designated as a key element in the struggling operator's road to recovery. At the CTIA Wireless 2010 conference in Las Vegas in March, Hesse referred to 2010 as "the year of 4G," and emphasized the company's plan to use mobile WiMAX's headstart on LTE to get as many customers on the network as possible.

Kellett is no stranger to challenging projects. Under her initiative, Sprint developed a successful support program for CDMA carriers around the world, assisting them in getting devices quickly and inexpensively. Kellett also was an early advocate for WiMAX--she led Sprint's global advocacy strategy for WiMAX, participated in many discussions with foreign carriers and helped the carrier establish many strategic partnerships to ensure its success in 4G.