Felix Finkbeiner, Founder, Plant For The Planet

“A mosquito cannot do anything against a rhino, but a thousand mosquitoes can make the rhino change its direction.” Vision: A world in balance, where climate justice prevails and children no longer have to fight for survival. Action: The 17-year-old passed his target of planting a million trees in his home country Germany, and kept on […]

Carol Hansen, CEO, Tatonka Capital Corporation

“Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Vision: A world where little girls know they can grow up to be a leader if they have a mind to. Action: As the immediate past Chair of the Women’s YPO Network (WYN) Carol gave a powerful organization a voice it never […]

Evan Chrapko, CEO, Waste to Energy

“Leave the world a better place than how you found it. That doesn’t mean you can’t do well for yourself along the way.” Vision: Solving the world’s energy problems through smart energy means, and solving social problems while you’re at it. Action: Ideas are a necessary first ingredient – and the bigger the idea, the better. […]

Desmond Tutu, Spiritual leader, social rights activist

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Vision: A society that nurtures tolerance and understanding among all people. Action: The Archbishop Emeritus has identified essential human values as the building blocks for sustainable peace: Love, hope, tolerance and courage. His role as a spiritual leader has transgressed all cultures […]

Laura Giadorou-Koch, CEO, Dolium Winery

“We need people who, when they see a social problem, stop complaining, roll up their sleeves and do something in a big way.” Vision: Imagine if only one percent of students become social entrepreneurs, this world will be a better place for all. Action: Giadorou-Koch works with public and private schools, supporting educators with activities […]

Bill Strathmann, CEO, Network For Good

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community.” – George Bernard Shaw Vision: Generosity unleashed: How giving and investing together can unleash capital for global challenges. Action: Leads a digital donation platform, having driven more than US$1.25 billion to more than 100,000 charities. He now aims to distribute US$10 billion and unleash […]

Danae Ringelmann, CoFounder, Indiegogo

“It’s important to empower entrepreneurs, artists and causes to fund what matters to them.” Vision: Raising funds through online crowdfunding to make ideas that matter happen. Action: Made it easy to take an idea, start a campaign and get it funded. A way for people all over the world to join forces to make worthy […]

Paul van Zyl, Founder, Maiyet

“If ordinary people feel their interests have been neglected, then a peace deal drawn up by elites will quickly unravel.” Vision: Using the power of markets and entrepreneurship to build peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict. Action: Building peace involved promoting employment and higher profitability in countries with conflict. By founding luxury fashion brand Maiyet, […]

Wendy Kopp, CEO, Teach For All

“Invest in educational development as a long-term force for change.” Vision: To channel the energy of her generation for educational equality. Action: Recruited 11,000 Teach For America corps members—all outstanding college graduates and professionals of all academic disciplines— for a two-year teaching commitment in the nation’s highest- need urban and rural regions www.TeachForAll.org  

Dennis Overton, CEO, Aquascot

“I’m better at what I do in Scotland because of my work in Africa.” Vision: Long-term business sustainability and a deeper understanding of true profits are key. Action: Realizing that farming practices around the world basically require the same skills, regardless of the produce, Overton combined salmon farming practice in Scotland with plant oil farming in […]