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, […]
Peter Diamandis, CEO, XPrize Foundation
“The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.” Vision: A world of abundance, where the basic needs are met for every child, woman and man. Action: Awards prizes to solve humanity’s grand challenges: energy, water, learning and health. The creation of Singularity University, which attracts, educates and incubates exponential entrepreneurs who […]
Katherine Gerber, Director, Youth Service America
“Keep standing up for what you believe in. I love people who care about how public policy affects our nation.” Vision: Youth, service and community coalitions have the power to change the world. Action: When young people have the chance to serve their communities, everyone benefits. YSA has created large-scale mobilization campaigns for young people, […]
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
Letizia Moratti, CoFounder, San Patrignano
“The boys and girls – whether rich or poor, those who can pay and those who can’t – are all treated equally.” Vision: To have drug addicts seen as productive members of society when placed within productive environments. Action: The creation of a global village of recovering addicts who are called “guests” and taught commercial skills. […]
Craig and Marc Kielburger, Founders, Free The Children
“The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are free to be children.” Vision: To empower youth to change the world by being active local and global citizens. Action: Since launching their organization as teenagers in 1995, the Kielburgers have provided 45 countries with building projects, built 650 schools […]
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 […]
Tim Jahnigen, Founder, One World Play Project
“Where play happens, change happens!” – Lisa Tarver Vision: Using ultra-durable products to empower humanity to fulfill their dreams through play – a biological imperative – what we call “social nutrition.” Action: Jahnigen created a ball that never needs a pump, never goes flat. This year they’ll deliver their 1.5 millionth One World Futbol, impacting 45 million […]
Audette Exel, Founder, Adara Group
“Real leadership is inspiring others to come with you on your vision.” Vision: To change the way people think about the role of business, and demonstrate the power of the business/non-profit partnership. Action: Establishing two separate entities that are each allowed to do what they do best – a corporate advisory business and international development organization. […]
Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
“Hope is like a path. At first there is no path, but as more people walk back and forth, a path appears.” – Lu Xun Vision: To galvanize everyone to use their talents and insights to improve the world as part of their daily lives. Action: Coauthored the book A Path Appears, showing that ordinary people can […]
