Forbes shares the 2009 edition of the Thinkers 50, a biennial list of the most influential living management thinkers. The list is way to US-focused for my mind, considering that America has big problems from coast to coast.

Thinkers of HamagiaClearly, Gates, Jobs and Krugman should be on the list. I’m not sure about the entire lot. CrainerDearlove is measuring influence, so publishing books that sell — rather than having resoundingly notable ideas — is probably a key factor in getting on the list.

Most of us know the impact Huhammad Yunus is having on the world; he’s now in sixth place.

Is Malcolm Gladwell more influential than Yunnus and Gates, especially with Bill Gates now up to his eyeballs in rethinking and executing philanthropy strategy around the world? The list has Gladwell #2.

We’ve established that many management consulting firms are severely short-handed in hiring intelligent women. I’ll ask the question that continues to concern me.

Can male thinkers really create a new world that works for both genders? Or even men? I’m skeptical, especially when the current world is neck-deep in — shall we say ‘severe challenges’. A

More reading: Boston Consulting Group Succeeds Big-Time Recruiting, Retaining & Promoting Women with European Thinking