John Mackey, Founder, Whole Foods
“Great companies have great purposes.” Vision: A more conscious way of doing business. Action: Mackey has devoted his career to helping shoppers satisfy their lifestyle needs with high- quality natural and organic foods. He cofounded the Conscious Capitalism Movement to challenge business leaders to rethink why their organizations exist, and to acknowledge their roles in […]
Spencer West, Motivational speaker
“Just because the world tells us something is impossible, it doesn’t mean we have to believe it.” Vision: To show the impossible can be done. Action: Losing both legs at age five has not stopped West from reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and inspiring millions of people to overcome their challenges. He has raised hundreds of thousands […]
Chris Temple and Zach Ingasci, Founders, Living on One
“A real leader is someone who leads by example, through the personal narrative and values of their life.” 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 […]
Emma Watson, Actress, gender activist
“Gender equality is not only a woman’s issue, it’s a human rights issue.” Vision: A world of gender equality. Action: Some campaigns portray the feminist cause as “man-hating.” By involving both genders in the #HeForShe campaign, Watson hopes to abolish the “us vs. them” mentality. She has launched a campaign that aims to galvanize one billion […]
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese opposition leader
“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it.” Vision: A democratic Burma. Action: Spending two decades in detainment can dampen your enthusiasm, but Suu Kyi has emerged as an icon for peaceful resistance in an effort to bring democracy to military-ruled Burma. She must get powerful military […]
Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
“A good environmental policy is good for business.” 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 […]
Pierre Omidyar, Founder, eBay and First Look Media
“Long-term sustainable change happens if people discover their own power.” Vision: Democracy depends on a citizenry that is highly informed and deeply engaged in the issues that affect their lives. Action: First Look’s insistence on editorial independence has already attracted some of the most fiercely independent journalists around. Omidyar seeks to improve society through journalism […]
Jeff Skoll, Founder, Skoll Foundation
“Measurement is important – like any kind of investment you need to be ruthless about what you are trying to achieve.” Vision: A world that deals with global challenges through social enterprise and impact investing. Action: Skoll believes that you should be as entrepreneurial in impact investing as you would in any other form of […]
Matt Renner, Executive Director, World Business Academy
“Business is the most agile and important force on earth and also the most politically and socially impactful.” 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 […]
Rosa Parks (1913-2005), Civil Rights Activist
“I don’t remember feeling anger, but I did feel determined to take this as an opportunity to let it be known that I did not want to be treated in that manner.” Vision: A society free of prejudice. Action: Parks refused to give up her seat to a white commuter on a bus in 1955. She became an icon of […]
