Michael van Patten, Founder, Mission Markets
“Consume your life in your vision, make it your obsession and do not think about plan B, but also be flexible as the road is not straight.” Vision: To use the power of the capital markets as a catalyst for positive change. Action: Threw his life into his vision with a single-minded purpose, pushing forward […]
Gareth Ackerman, Chairman, Pick n Pay
“Make a difference. Invest in communities and leverage our networks to make things better for all.” Vision: A fairer world where we would work towards both growing the cake and sharing it more equitably. Action: Dedicates his business to values that have been in place for 50 years: Doing good is good business; consumer sovereignty; business […]
Stedman Graham, CEO, S. Graham & Associates
“You are not your circumstances. You are your possibilities.” Vision: To help people understand their potential, develop an identity, and recognize the value of knowledge and how it applies to their lives each day. Action: Graham teaches identity development and leadership to people all over the world – from youth to executives. He has written 11 […]
Gabbrielle Giffords, CoFounder, Americans For Responsible Solutions
“Dangerous people with guns are a danger to women – for moms, for families, for me and you.” Vision: A society that prevents gun violence. Action: A string of public shootings over the last few years has spurred Giffords to find solutions that prevent more violence, including background checks. Herself a victim, she fights entrenched […]
Laura Roberts, CEO, Pantheon Enterprises
“Building a substantial business is the best way to make a significant difference.” Vision: To transform the industrial chemical industry and remove toxic chemicals from the environment. Action: Worked for years in a predominantly male industry to replace harmful chemicals with non-toxic ones. Proved that alternative products without toxins can do the job equally well. […]
Linda Rottenberg, CEO, Endeavor
“If people aren’t calling you crazy, you aren’t thinking big enough.” Vision: To lead the high-impact entrepreneurship movement around the world. Action: Created the first global organization focusing on the “scale- up” phase of entrepreneurship. Endeavor identifies, mentors and co- invests in high-impact entrepreneurs — business innovators demonstrating the greatest potential for growth. But don’t bet the […]
Rebecca Masisak, CEO, TechSoup Global
“Managing technology is managing change. Leadership can come from any place.” Vision: A world where technology is a powerful enabler for social change. Action: Leading a worldwide network of individuals and organizations that share a conviction to work together to develop and exchange new solutions to our most urgent social challenges. Masisak believes NGOs and nonprofits […]
Matt Patsky, CEO, Trillium Asset Management
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Archbisop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Vision: A world where the capital markets can be used for financial gain while promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. Action: Provides products and services that fulfill the financial, social […]
Peter Ter Kulve, President Commissioner, Unilever
“To make growth possible you have to incorporate bigger social themes or else you simply become a problem instead of a solution.” Vision: Sustainability will lead to a whole new funnel of innovation. Action: A key belief is that Unilever will do better business in a healthy society, rather than in an unhealthy one. Healthy […]
Derek Handley, Serial entrepreneur
“It’s less about planetary issues and more about the human issues that cause it.” Vision: A world where profit is put alongside people and planet. Action: Helped establish the B Team, a global group of leaders chosen for the work they’re doing to advance the cause of better business. Seeing the bigger picture of business and its […]
