Vision: A world where those who think outside the box don’t have their thoughts bullied back in to a box. Action: Created The 99 superhero comic series, based on the values that Islam shares with humanity. The idea was fought by zealots in both the East and West as it competes for mindshare. It became the first intellectual property from the Muslim world to go global. www.Al-Mutawa.com
Vision: A world in which business becomes a global force for positive social change. Action: Mainwaring wrote We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World. He started speaking around the world and writing for industry magazines to share these ideas. www.WeFirstBranding.com
Vision: To enable leaders to make wiser decisions so that there is less suffering as a result of war. Action: Elworthy has brought nuclear weapons policy makers into dialogue with their counterparts and with their critics, in confidential under-the-radar meetings to discuss the terms of treaties. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times. www.ScillaElworthy.com
Vision: Be an optimist. Focus on a few big goals that can help every person have a healthy, productive life. Action: Some of the projects the foundation funds will fail. Bill and Melinda Gates not only accept that, they expect it—because they think their essential role is to make bets on promising solutions that governments and businesses can’t afford to make. They adjust strategies and share the results so everyone can benefit. www.GatesFoundation.org
Vision: Imagine a world in which our economy works for all people – this generation and the next. Action: Reframing the conversation about sustainability – from one of responsibility, cost savings and risk mitigation to one of revenue growth and opportunity for innovation. www.SustainableBrands.com
Vision: To inspire business to assume responsibility for the whole of society. Action: The academy is a nonprofit think tank and action incubator that assists those in business who share their values. They explore the roles and responsibilities of business in relation to critical moral, environmental and social issues of our day. www.WorldBusiness.org
Vision: Mobilizing business leadership for a sustainable world. Action: Ceres was formed 25 years ago after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Their mission was to bring environmentalists and capitalists together to forge a new sustainable business model, one that would help protect the planet, weaving social challenges and investor decision- making into the capital markets to help build a thriving global economy. www.Ceres.org
Vision: A world of equitable opportunity, where everyone – no matter race, gender, or religion – is treated with dignity. Action: The pair immerse themselves in pressing global issues and create films about their experiences to inspire action. Their approach is to take the time to listen and help share these stories on a global scale. www.LivingOnOne.org
Vision: To support and empower diverse, innovative leaders who leverage business for a greater good. Action: Helps build valuable peer-to-peer connections among influential business leaders, social entrepreneurs and impact investors. This creates high-impact collaborations that contribute to a just, humane and sustainable world. www.SVN.org
Vision: An era that will put unprecedented value on talent as the main driver of business success. Action: ManpowerGroup is leading governments and business leaders to re-examine how they leverage human potential in an increasingly volatile world. They don’t pretend they have a social conscience, because the core of their business is already that. www.ManpowerGroup.com
