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Leaders50 is Thinkers50’s biennial list of 50 exceptional leaders from around the world.
Unlike other rankings and lists based on company size, revenue, or media profile, Leaders50 is selected by the people who study leadership for a living. Nominations come exclusively from Thinkers50 Ranked Thinkers and Distinguished Achievement Award recipients — the experts, scholars, and authors who define today’s management and leadership thinking.
The result is a distinctive mix of well-known names and under-the-radar changemakers from across business, NGOs, social enterprises, and mission-driven organisations. Some of the names will be familiar, but the list also contains hidden gems – leaders you may not recognise but who are venerated by the people who study leadership.
The leaders in the Leaders50 are nominated by experts, not algorithms. These are the people who research and write the case studies that appear in management journals and magazines, and are taught globally in business schools and beyond. Their selections are based on a simple set of criteria.
This distinctive methodology enables Leaders50 to recognise leadership excellence not just among CEOs of large companies, but wherever it occurs.
Leaders50 answers a question no other list or ranking addresses: which leaders do the people who study leadership most admire? Who are the leaders that inspire their own work? The answer reveals the leaders who are not simply successful, but who are reshaping what organisations, teams, and leadership itself, look like in practice.
TO BE ANNOUNCED SEPTEMBER 2026
Every two years, Thinkers50 releases the Leaders50, a unique listing of 50 inspiring leaders from organisations worldwide.
Nominations for the Leaders50 are received exclusively from the Thinkers50 Ranked Thinkers and recipients of the Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards – the experts, scholars, and authors who define today’s management and leadership thinking.
In 2026, the Leaders50 will be published in September, with those named to the list honoured at the Thinkers50 London Summit & Leaders50 Awards Gala on 2 November. And for the first time, this prestigious event will also introduce the Leaders50 Distinguished Achievement Awards, recognising the exceptional achievements of practising leaders across select award categories.
TO BE ANNOUNCED 2 NOVEMBER 2026
The Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards have been described by the Financial Times as The Oscars of Management Thinking. Like the Oscars, they are highly prestigious and are presented at a Gala event attended by many of industry’s leading figures.
To mark its 25th Anniversary, this year Thinkers50 is introducing a new set of accolades: the Leaders50 Distinguished Achievement Awards, recognising the exceptional achievements of practising leaders across select award categories.
Celebrating the 2026 Leaders50 and announcing the inaugural Leaders50 Distinguished Achievement Awards
CEO, e.l.f. Beauty
Bio
Chairman and CEO of e.l.f. Beauty since 2014, Tarang Amin has driven remarkable growth and innovation, transforming the company into a leader in diversity and sustainability within the beauty industry. Under his guidance, e.l.f. went public in 2016 in one of the most successful beauty IPOs, and he has since expanded the business more than fivefold. Notably, e.l.f. Beauty’s board reflects Tarang’s commitment to inclusivity, being one of only a few in the U.S. with over two-thirds women and nearly half representing diverse backgrounds.
Leadership
Tarang’s leadership is purpose-driven, emphasising sustainable and ethical business practices. e.l.f. Beauty became the first company in the beauty sector with Fair Trade CertifiedTM manufacturing and operates entirely on renewable energy at its managed sites. With over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at Schiff Nutrition and Clorox, Tarang is known for his coaching style, inspiring high-performance teams, and fostering an inclusive culture that mirrors e.l.f. Beauty’s diverse consumer base. He believes that beauty can be a force for positive change and leverages e.l.f. Beauty’s platform to inspire, empower, and advocate for socially responsible business practices. Through his leadership, Tarang is setting a new standard for corporate responsibility in the beauty industry.
Tarang Amin
CEO, e.l.f. Beauty
CEO, Bayer
Bio
A member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG since April 2023, Bill Anderson became its chairman (CEO) two months later. Prior to joining Bayer, Bill was CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals and Genentech. His career has also included spells at Biogen, Raychem Corporation, and Ethyl Corporation. He holds a master’s from MIT in chemical engineering and in management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Leadership
One of Bill’s key leadership strategies at Bayer is shifting its enterprise operating model towards a Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO), which prioritises continuous learning and adaption alongside cutting layers of bureaucracy that impede employees’ full potential. As a result, 95% of decisions are made by those on the ground, and innovation cycles are as quick as 90 days. In 2025, Bayer was announced as a winner in the Zero DX Zero Distance Awards by the Business Ecosystem Alliance, in partnership with Haier Model Institute and MLab.
Bill Anderson
CEO, Bayer
Senior VP and Chair for IBM Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific
Bio
As Chair for IBM Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific, Ana Paula Assis leads operations across more than 170 countries and is the brain behind IBM’s hybrid cloud. Over the course of her career at IBM, Ana Paula has held senior roles in regions including Latin America, the United States, and China, working across a broad spectrum of business units and technologies.
Leadership
An internationally recognised technology leader, Ana Paula champions initiatives focused on sustainable innovation, responsible AI, and large-scale skills development. A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion, she promotes the impact of multicultural teams and equitable access to technology. Under her leadership, IBM has expanded programs that build future-ready skills, support workforce development, and contribute to economic growth across both mature and emerging markets. Her leadership has also played a key role in strengthening ecosystem partnerships, scaling AI-driven offerings, and guiding clients through complex modernization efforts.
Ana Paula Assis
Senior VP and Chair for IBM Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific
CEO, General Motors
Bio
Mary T. Barra has been CEO of General Motors (GM) since 2014, making history as the first female leader of the iconic automotive company and breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her journey with GM began in 1980, when she joined as a co-op student in the Pontiac Motor Division. Over the years, she has held numerous executive roles. Her tenure as CEO has been marked by a transformative focus on innovation and sustainability, with a commitment to producing one million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025 and driving advancements in autonomous technology. Mary’s vision aligns with GM’s ambitious goal of achieving “zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion,” showcasing her dedication to creating a safer, greener planet.
Leadership
Known for her straightforward communication style, Mary fosters a culture of openness and accountability, encouraging frank discussions and collaboration among her teams. Her commitment to diversity is evident in her ambition to make GM one of the most inclusive employers globally. She has also championed initiatives to enhance workplace inclusion, setting a new standard for equality within the corporate world. As chair of the Business Roundtable and a board member at the Walt Disney Company she shapes corporate governance and economic policy, leaving a legacy that not only redefines GM’s future but also the broader landscape of sustainable transportation and corporate leadership.
Mary Barra
CEO, General Motors
President, Seramount
Bio
President of Seramount, Subha Barry was previously Senior VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Freddie Mac, where she served on the firm’s management committee and led their foundation. Prior to this, she spent over 20 years at Merrill Lynch as Managing Director and their first Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion. She began her career at the firm as a financial advisor where she was a top 100 of 16,000. Subha is a former adjunct professor at Columbia University’s SIPA, and currently serves on the boards of SHRM Foundation, Rice 360, Rutgers Cancer Center, and the Rutgers Institute of Women’s Leadership.
Leadership
“An incredible leader changing the face of diversity and inclusion bringing AI-first insights to HR. She is a true trailblazer.” (Erica Dhawan, Thinkers50 Ranking). Subha joined Working Mother Media (WMM) in 2015 and during her tenure dramatically improved margins, expanded its portfolio through growth in high-value consulting and learning and development, exponentially grew their client roster, and recruited talented executive leaders to amplify subject matter and functional expertise. In 2021, Subha oversaw the brand’s transformation from WMM to Seramount, a leading strategic professional services and research firm dedicated to building high-performing, inclusive workplaces.
Subha Barry
President, Seramount
CEO, Delta Airlines
Bio
CEO of Delta Air Lines since 2016, Ed Bastian has been instrumental in transforming the airline into a global leader through a people-centred, customer-focused approach. With over 25 years at Delta, he has guided the company through significant challenges, including 9/11, bankruptcy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Delta has pursued an ambitious expansion strategy, investing heavily in technology, fleet modernisation, and employee development. His vision has led to Delta becoming the most awarded airline in the U.S., recognised for reliability, operational excellence, and top-tier customer service.
Leadership
Central to Ed’s philosophy is the ‘virtuous circle’ of leadership, which prioritises employee welfare to enhance customer service and, consequently, strengthen business performance and investor returns. This people-driven model has positioned Delta as a trusted brand, with a global reach that contributes significantly to the local and global economy. Ed’s leadership is defined by his commitment to sustainable success, with a focus on innovation, employee care, and customer loyalty. His style is built on honesty and transparency, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
Ed Bastian
CEO, Delta Airlines
CEO, Bel Group
Bio
Cécile Béliot joined the Bel Group in 2018 as Deputy CEO in charge of Strategy, Worldwide Markets and Growth. She was appointed CEO in 2022 – the first woman and only the second executive from outside the founding family to lead the 150-year-old company. Prior to joining Bel she spent 17 years at Danone, including as general manager of One Danone France, and managing director of Danone Waters, France and Benelux.
Leadership
Cécile has led Bel Group’s transformation towards a more sustainable and responsible performance model, one that fully integrates its financial and non-financial challenges. Following her conviction that companies can deliver both profitability and sustainability, the title of Chief Financial Officer at Bel was changed to Chief Global Impact Officer, a bold move that signals how the entire organisation perceives performance and accountability. Cécile’s leadership is about putting an ‘and’ in everything you do: embracing short-term and long-term; purpose and profit. C
Cécile Béliot
CEO, Bel Group
CEO, Schneider Electric
Bio
CEO of Schneider Electric since 2024, Olivier Blum has spent more than three decades with the company and has served on its executive committee since 2014. Previously, he led its Energy Management business and served as Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, overseeing corporate strategy, M&A, sustainability, and quality. From 2014 to 2020, he was Chief Human Resources Officer, where his transformative leadership earned him recognition as France’s CHRO of the Year in 2019. Olivier joined Schneider Electric in 1993 and has held senior leadership roles across Asia, including in China, India, and Hong Kong.
Leadership
Olivier’s commitment to sustainability has been instrumental in Schneider Electric’s success, culminating in the company being named the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation by Corporate Knights in 2021. He is a strong advocate of agile, people-centred leadership, with a focus on performance, simplifying structures, and speed of decision making, empowering regional teams to respond quickly to changing conditions. Olivier believes leaders shape organisational culture from the top and that putting the right people in the right roles is fundamental to success.
Olivier Blum
CEO, Schneider Electric
Senior advisor to the IKEA Foundation; chair of The Earthshot Prize
Bio
Senior advisor to the IKEA Foundation, Chair of The Earthshot Prize and The B Team, and Vice Chair of the UN Global Compact, Jesper Brodin is former CEO/President of Ingka Group, IKEA. Prior to assuming the CEO position in 2017, he was Managing Director at IKEA of Sweden/Range & Supply, with responsibility for the development of the product range and supply chain of the IKEA brand. He began his IKEA career in Pakistan as a purchase manager, became regional purchase manager for Southeast Asia, then took the role of assistant to IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and then-CEO, Anders Dahlvig. Jesper was named as one of the top 100 Most Influential People by TIME in 2024.
Leadership
As CEO Jesper re-shaped IKEA into an omnichannel retailer with a conscience. He led two major transformations, driving IKEA’s digital evolution and embedding sustainability at its core. A powerful voice for responsible business, Jesper is passionate about contributing to people, planet-positive development, and values-based leadership. His appointment to Chair of the Board of The Earthshot Prize, in which he succeeded Christiana Figueres, reflects his long-standing commitment to demonstrating that what is good for the planet is also good for business, and his belief in mobilising business, government, and innovators to drive impact at scale.
Jesper Brodin
Senior advisor to the IKEA Foundation; chair of The Earthshot Prize
CEO, LEGO Group
Bio
CEO of the LEGO Group since 2017 and CEO of LEGO Holding since 2025, Niels Christiansen was previously CEO of Danfoss A/S and CEO of GN Netcom. He also held leadership positions in GN Store Nord and Hilti Corporation in Switzerland. He is Chairman of the Board of Demant A/S, and a member of the Board of Tetra Laval Group. Niels began his career at McKinsey & Company and holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc in engineering and a BA from the Technical University of Denmark.
Leadership
Awarded Denmark’s Leader of the Year 2025, Niels was described by the jury as “an analytically sharp leader who sets clear direction and executes quickly and precisely. He is also a pleasant and decent person who never lets his ego get in the way of a compelling argument or the right solution.” Under his leadership, the LEGO Group turnover has more than doubled, with new retail stores across the world. Niels has also spearheaded the introduction of the first sustainably sourced LEGO products and maintained LEGO’s reputable brand. Hear about his LEGO journey in this IbyIMD CEO Dialogue podcast.
Niels Christiansen
CEO, LEGO Group
Managing Director, Sway Ventures
Bio
Managing Director at Sway Ventures, Ken Denman is Lead Independent Director of the Board at Motorola Solutions and a board member of Costco Wholesale Corporation. From 2012 to 2016 he was the president and CEO of Emotient (purchased by Apple). He also served as a director then CEO of Openwave Systems from 2004 to 2011 and as CEO, president, director and chairman of iPass from 2003 to 2008. He is a visiting professor and board member of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and chair of the University’s Foundation. Ken is also a member of the board of trustees of Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Leadership
Ken is #14 on the Wall Street Journal’s Top 25 Board Directors. In this video from UW Foster School of Business, he reveals the key qualities he looks for in future leaders, the importance of mentors, and trusting your own intuition. He also discusses the challenges of founding a startup and driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the world of business. Ken was named one of 2017’s Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine.
Ken Denman
Managing Director, Sway Ventures
CEO, Greiner AG
Bio
A respected leader in the international chemical industry, Saori Dubourg is CEO of Greiner AG. She previously served on the Board of Executive Directors at BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, where she held key roles across sectors such as health and nutrition, agricultural solutions, plastics, petrochemicals, and life sciences. Saori’s global experience spans Europe, the U.S., China, Japan, and Singapore, bringing a diverse and strategic perspective to her leadership. She has been an active member of the German Federal Government’s Council for Sustainable Development and the steering committee of the Impact Taskforce, founded under the British G7 presidency. In these roles, she has promoted sustainability initiatives that contribute positively to environmental and social wellbeing on an international scale.
Leadership
Known for her principled leadership, Saori draws from her Japanese heritage, grounding her decision-making in strong ethical values. She is recognised as a role model in the industry, with a stance on preserving European competencies in industrial negotiations, earning her respect and visibility. Saori’s legacy is one of impactful leadership in the chemical industry, blending strategic growth with a firm commitment to sustainability. Her work continues to influence the industry, inspiring future leaders to prioritise sustainable practices and ethical responsibility in their pursuits.
Saori Dubourg
CEO, Greiner AG
CEO, Zoox
Bio
Aichatou Sar Evans, professionally known as Aicha Evans, is the CEO of Zoox, Amazon’s self-driving car subsidiary, and a pioneering figure in the autonomous vehicle industry. Born in Senegal and raised in Paris, Aicha was inspired by Marie Curie and driven by a vision to make a meaningful impact in technology. She emigrated to the U.S. to pursue her education. Her career includes engineering management roles at Rockwell Semiconductor, Conexant, and Skyworks Solutions, and a 12-year tenure at Intel, where she rose to chief strategy officer. In 2019, Aicha became the CEO of Zoox and, in 2020, spearheaded its acquisition by Amazon, securing significant resources while ensuring the firm remained a standalone entity. Her strategic focus on patent coverage and innovation in mobility attracted Amazon’s interest and positioned Zoox as a leader in autonomous technology.
Leadership
Aicha’s leadership style is characterised by decisiveness, empowerment, and a heart-centred approach that emphasises inclusivity and vision. Her work at Zoox supports a future where autonomous vehicles can become a widespread, accessible resource, enhancing mobility solutions for society. As a role model, she inspires women and underrepresented groups in technology, demonstrating the impact of leadership rooted in purpose and innovation. Aicha’s legacy lies in her transformative influence on the autonomous vehicle industry, her focus on making self-driving technology part of daily life, and her commitment to inclusive, impactful technology.
Aicha Evans
CEO, Zoox
CEO-partner, Flagship Pioneering
Bio
Margo Georgiadis is CEO-partner at Flagship Pioneering, a venture creation firm focused on groundbreaking innovations in human health, sustainability, and biotechnology. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Montai Therapeutics, a biotech company using AI technology and human chemistry to develop innovative treatments for chronic diseases. Combining technology with a human-centred approach, Margo leads the company to find solutions that are effective, personalised, and accessible. Margo’s leadership in biotech reflects her dedication to blending technology and healthcare solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
Leadership
Margo’s commitment to innovation, social responsibility, gender diversity, and inclusion has made her a role model, especially within the technology and biotech sectors. Shes is also an advocate for women in STEM, actively supporting initiatives like Girls Who Code and Made with Code to inspire young women to pursue careers in technology. “Margo Georgiadis is a rare leader – she’s operationally excellent and visionary. From Google to Ancestry and now to breakthrough healthcare innovation at Montai Health, she drives results through data-driven decision-making while leveraging deep emotional intelligence. She has a prodigious intellect and a firm grasp of the future, yet remains well-grounded. An exceptional, transformative leader.” – Whitney Johnson (Thinkers50 Ranking).
Margo Georgiadis
CEO-partner, Flagship Pioneering
CEO and founder, Chatterbox
Bio
Mursal Hedayat was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and became a refugee at four years old, moving to the UK with her family. She is the CEO and founder of a tech social enterprise called Chatterbox, an innovative language learning platform. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to social enterprise, technology, and the economy. Mursal graduated from the University of Leeds in 2015, with a BSc in economics and mathematics.
Leadership
A multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, Mursal founded Chatterbox to harness the untapped talent of refugees and other marginalised professionals, creating pathways into professional careers. Chatterbox works with corporate clients, helping to improve intercultural understanding at some of the world’s biggest companies, and has gained support from British and Silicon Valley investors. In 2018, Chatterbox won a ‘Next Billion’ Edtech Prize for high impact innovative technology.
Mursal Hedayat
CEO and founder, Chatterbox
Co-founder, President and CEO, Nvidia
Bio
Jensen Huang is the visionary CEO of NVIDIA, a company he co-founded in 1993. Born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S., his career began at LSI Logic and Advanced Micro Devices. Under his leadership, NVIDIA pioneered the development of the first graphics processing unit (GPU) in 1999. This breakthrough transformed computer graphics, enabling real-time rendering and expanding the gaming industry. As NVIDIA evolved, Jensen steered the company into AI and data science, making GPUs central to AI research and machine learning across fields from healthcare to autonomous vehicles. His strategic foresight led to innovations like the CUDA platform and the acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, positioning NVIDIA as a major player in generative AI.
Leadership
Jensen’s leadership style is marked by vision and innovation. His legacy lies in transforming NVIDIA into a powerhouse for AI and computing, driving advancements that have redefined both gaming and modern AI applications, with a focus on enhancing the synergy between technology and humanity. “As a leader, Jensen Huang role models the power of intellectual honesty, the ability to be curious about unprecedented possibilities, and is flexible enough to change course when necessary. Throughout the 30-year history of NVIDIA he has shown that success doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes but from consistently learning from them.” – Kirstin Ferguson (Thinkers50 Leadership Award 2023).
Jensen Huang
Co-founder, President and CEO, Nvidia
CEO, Visma
Bio
Merete Hverven is the CEO of Visma, one of the largest female-led tech firms globally. Since joining as HR director in 2011, she held multiple leadership roles before becoming CEO. Recognised as one of the top three influential women in technology by ODA Award Woman in 2019, Merete is a passionate advocate for diversity and equality in the workplace. Under her leadership, Visma has achieved remarkable growth financially and as an employer, with employee engagement placing in the top 5% of the tech industry. Merete’s innovative approach to customer focus and organisational culture has helped unify Visma’s diverse operations across Europe and Latin America, while her emphasis on simplifying and automating work processes supports more efficient and prosperous business practices globally.
Leadership
Merete has championed a flat organisational culture at Visma, encouraging openness and transparency, and a collaborative environment. In her view, modern leadership demands both competence in technical skills and emotional intelligence. Her dedication to diversity has initiated several programs aimed at increasing inclusion, setting a standard for female leadership in technology. Merete sees diversity as a crucial factor in business success, fostering a culture where different perspectives enhance decision-making and value creation. Her legacy is one of transformative growth and inclusive leadership, inspiring future leaders to value both innovation and equality in their organisational goals.
Merete Hverven
CEO, Visma
Chair, illycaffè
Bio
Andrea Illy is Chair of illycaffè and Co-Chair of the Regenerative Society Foundation (RSF), which was founded in 2020 to promote a new socio-economic model based on regeneration. Between 2013 and 2019, he chaired the Altagamma Foundation, an organisation representing premier Italian brands in the cultural and creative sectors. He has been a board member of the Bank of Italy since 2013 and chairs its Identity and Image Committee. He also leads the International Advisory Board of the Trieste Laboratory on Quantitative Sustainability (LTSQ), is a member of The Club of Rome, and sits on the Executive Board of FIPE, the Italian Federation of Public Establishments. He was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004, received the Capo d’Orlando Award in 2013, and the Guido Carli Award in 2014. In 2018, Andrea was named Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Italian Republic and received the Leonardo Award in 2021.
Leadership
Andrea is leading the coffee industry toward a regenerative economy, driving the transition from sustainable, passive practices to active, “virtuous agriculture”. He developed this approach following a year spent studying the best sustainable practices in the private sector, particularly in coffee production. Focusing on enhancing biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and carbon sequestration, virtuous agriculture is often termed “soil-to-soil” regeneration. His new book, The Regenerative Society (Bocconi University Press, 2026), explores how companies adopting regenerative practices systematically outperform traditional ones.
Andrea Illy
Chair, illycaffè
President and CEO, Carters
Bio
President and CEO at Carters, Sharon Price John was previously Chief President Bear and CEO of Build-A-Bear from 2013 to 2026. Before this, she served as President of Stride Rite Children’s Group LLC, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, Inc., which designs and markets footwear for children. From 2002 to 2009, she held a variety of positions at Hasbro, Inc., including as GM and Senior VP of its US Toy Division from 2006 to 2008 and of its Global Preschool unit from June 2008 through 2009. Sharon also founded and served as CEO of Checkerboard Toys, served as VP, US Toy Division with VTech Industries, Inc., and in a range of roles at Mattel, Inc.
Leadership
During her tenure at Build-A-Bear, Sharon revitalized the brand and returned the company to profitability. This turnaround earned her a place in Fortune’s top CEOs and Most Powerful Women in Business. In her debut book, Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love, Sharon shares her lessons in leadership from her personal experience overcoming self-doubt and building resilience, learning from failure, and pivoting professionally. Leadership, she maintains, is about being true to your authentic self, recognising the values that are important to you, and labelling challenges as empowering.
Sharon Price John
President and CEO, Carters
Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco
Bio
Francine Katsoudas is Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco, where she leads a global team spanning People & Communities, Social Impact & Sustainability, Government Affairs, 3P Technology Office, Cisco Learning, and Cisco’s Digital Impact Office. She is also Cisco’s executive country sponsor for Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and India. Francine has been recognised on the CNBC Changemakers, Forbes and Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list, honouring female leaders and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground.
Leadership
Francine’s work advances Cisco’s mission: to power an inclusive future for all. Her leadership on critical policy and social issues has forged strategic public-private partnerships addressing some of the world’s most pressing concerns. During her 30 years at the company, she has led large-scale organisational transformations, cultivated new generations of leaders, and stewarded Cisco’s renowned employee-first conscious culture. As a board member of ADP, Francine helps businesses create fair and efficient workplaces, and as chair of Global Citizen, she campaigns for the end of extreme poverty.
Francine Katsoudas
Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco
Chair and CEO, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
Bio
Chairman of the Board President and CEO of Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Ken Keller also heads up the Global Oncology Business, which ensures innovative medicines reach cancer patient around the world. In 2025 he became the first non-Japanese person in the company’s 125-year history to join the Global Board of Directors. Ken has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including a longstanding career at Amgen, where he held several leadership roles. Prior to joining Daiichi Sankyo, Ken served as COO at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.
Leadership
An exemplary regional and global leader, Ken is motivated by passion for innovation and compassion for patients, which is at the core of everything he instils within his leadership teams. He has successfully launched numerous biologic products in therapeutic areas ranging from oncology to bone health to nephrology to inflammatory diseases, transformed businesses, and delivered sustainable revenue and profit growth. He led a major turnaround of Daiichi Sankyo’s business, pivoting its primary therapeutic area from cardiovascular to oncology.
Ken Keller
Chair and CEO, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
President and Co-founder, Dewesoft
Bio
Jure Knez is the president and co-founder of Dewesoft, a global engineering technology company that develops innovative measuring instruments and ranks among the top five companies in the measurement technology industry. Jure is also the founder of the business accelerator Katapult, which supports young entrepreneurs, allowing them to leverage Dewesoft’s high-end equipment. His goal is to fund the City of Acrobats, which will be a dedicated mini city for entrepreneurs. Jure completed his PhD at the Faculty of Engineering in Ljubljana, in 2002.
Leadership
Jure rejects the conventional playbook of venture capital, public markets, and short-term profit maximization. Instead, he has charted a radically different course, with Dewesoft being 100% employee-owned and entirely self-financed. Dewesoft reinvests 85% of its profits back into development and infrastructure and Jure has publicly announced a 100-year plan for the company, committed to keeping headquarters in his home region of Trbovlje, Slovenia, and structured ownership so that only active employees can hold shares. In an era when most leaders optimize for the next quarter, Jure is building for the next century. His results show that patience, collaboration, and regenerative thinking don’t just work; they can help organisations and societies thrive.
Jure Knez
President and Co-founder, Dewesoft
Founder, Chairman, and CEO, NIO
Bio
Li Bin is the founder and chairman of electric vehicle company NIO, where he has served as CEO since 2018. In 2000, he co-founded Beijing Bitauto E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and served as its director and president until 2006. He is also a director of Dida Inc., an online shared mobility company, and has also served as a director of Uxin Ltd, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars in China. From 2010 to 2020, served as Chair at Bitauto Holdings, a former NYSE-listed automobile service company and a leading automobile service provider in China. In 2002, Li co-founded Beijing Creative & Interactive Digital Technology Co., Ltd. as the chairman of the board of directors, serving as its president and director.
Leadership
Li’s vision extends beyond “selling EVs” to building a new mobility operating system, where energy replenishment is made frictionless at scale, reshaping how premium EV ownership works and inspiring broader industry imitation. He has institutionalized sustainability via formal ESG governance and reporting, linking product, supply chain, and operations to longer-term environmental and social value creation rather than treating ESG as branding. Li’s leadership style is distinctive for making “hard bets” on ecosystem infrastructure and business-model innovation, and pushing for industry collaboration on swapping standards and networks. He has differentiated NIO through a community-led customer model, with evidence of strong advocacy and loyalty alongside ongoing expansion of customer touchpoints.
Li Bin
Founder, Chairman, and CEO, NIO
Chair and CEO, Boston Scientific
Bio
Chair and CEO of Boston Scientific, Mike Mahoney’s career spans more than 25 years building market-leading medical device, capital equipment, and healthcare IT businesses. Prior to Boston Scientific, he served as Worldwide Chairman of the Medical Devices and Diagnostics division of Johnson & Johnson. Previously, he was President and CEO of Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX). His early career included leadership roles at General Electric Medical Systems, including GM of the company’s Healthcare Information Technology business. Mike serves on the Board of CVS Health, Boys & Girls Club of Boston and is the chair of the Board of Governors of Boston College CEO Club.
Leadership
In 2011, Boston Scientific was in a tailspin after having bought Guidant for a record $28B. From a collective market cap of $55B, it was soon valued at $4B and going down fast. Into this stepped Mike Mahoney as the new CEO who, within a decade, brought the company back up to a $140+B market cap. This included fixing strategy, aligning the organisation, and revamping company culture. It also involved building an innovation pipeline, which included a corporate venture arm – along with selective tuck-in acquisitions – that made the company the market leader in medical devices. Behind all this lies Mike’s efforts to instil a “winning spirit” that was grounded in the company purpose – using purpose as a central anchor to drive market success.
Mike Mahoney
Chair and CEO, Boston Scientific
CEO, Etihad Credit Insurance
Bio
Emirati business and technology leader, Raja Al Mazrouei was appointed CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) in 2023, after 11 months as Managing Director and 19 months as a board member. As Chairperson of the Harvard Business School MENA Advisory Board, she leads organisations at the intersection of technology, governance, global trade, and national competitiveness. Her executive education at Harvard Business School, London Business School, UC Berkeley, and the Singularity Executive Program specialised in AI strategy, emerging technologies, and exponential innovation. Raja is also a board member at Al Ansari Financial Services, Ittihad International Investment LLC, and pioneering digital bank Zand.
Leadership
Named #26 in Forbes Most Powerful Business Women of 2025, Raja focuses on integrating AI to strengthen economies, elevate institutions, and create inclusive opportunity. She has transformed ECI with innovative strategies, emphasising digitization and sustainable trade, contributing to both short-term economic gains and long-term national objectives. In her previous role as Executive Vice President of the DIFC Fintech Hive, she successfully built and led an accelerator program for start-ups in the financial technology sector in Dubai, partnering with established banks including Emirates NBD and accelerating over 200 start-ups in the MENA region.
Raja Al Mazrouei
CEO, Etihad Credit Insurance
Founder of BlaBlaCar and Dift
Bio
Founder and President of BlaBlaCar, Frédéric Mazzella is also the founder of Dift, originally called Captain Cause. He is also Co-President of France Digitale, the largest association of startups in Europe, host of the weekly show “Les Pionniers” on BFM Business channel, and author of Mission BlaBlaCar. Before founding BlaBlaCar, he was a research scientist for NASA in the USA and NTT in Japan. Frédéric holds a master’s degree in physics from the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS Ulm), a master’s degree in computer science from Stanford University, and an MBA from INSEAD, where he is a member of the board.
Leadership
Frédéric is a champion of humanistic leadership and an advocate for tech with a social conscience. The inspiration for BlablaCar came from observing millions of empty car seats alongside overcrowded trains. Because the business depends on people sharing journeys together, Frédéric focused early on creating systems that encourage transparency, accountability, and human connection. BlaBlaCar grew into one of a handful of French ‘unicorns,’ proving that tech could be used to build trust between strangers. He is a passionate and articulate speaker on the possibility of a different, more humanistic, tech ecosystem, with European values at the core.
Frédéric Mazzella
Founder of BlaBlaCar and Dift
CEO, Lidl
Bio
CEO of grocery giant Lidl since 2021, Kenneth McGrath previously successfully led Lidl’s Ireland division from 2009 to 2013, before being appointed the chain’s first US CEO, a role he departed in 2015 to move to cell company, Digicel. In 2017 he moved into the CEO role at Save A Lot, before relocating back to Europe as deputy chairman at Lidl, with responsibility for overseeing its international business.
Leadership
As CEO of Lidl, Kenneth has led an efficiency drive, streamlining the management team and shifting the company to be more customer-focused, with a new unified customer division to ensure a consistent shopping experience online and offline, and a unified country board. As CEO of Save A Lot, Kenneth engineered a whirlwind transition, realigning the business to set it on the path to resurgence.
Kenneth McGrath
CEO, Lidl
Former President and CEO, Walmart
Bio
Doug McMillon began his Walmart career in 1984 as an hourly associate. He was appointed as President and CEO in 2014, positions he held until retirement in 2026. He currently serves on the Walmart Board of Directors. He also served on the boards of the Business Roundtable and the Consumer Goods Forum.
Leadership
During his tenure as CEO, Doug turned Walmart around by bringing it into the digital age and placing purpose – and humanity – at its centre. He transformed the company into a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer dedicated to helping customers save money and live better. Focusing on the creation of good jobs, the company also invested heavily in its employees by increasing wages, expanding parental leave, and funding education opportunities. At the same time, it lowered its prices, built a large eCommerce business, and embraced technology to improve customer and associate experiences.
Doug McMillon
Former President and CEO, Walmart
CEO, Michelin Group
Bio
Managing Chairman, General Partner, and CEO of the Michelin Group, Florent Menegaux joined Michelin in 1997, as Commercial Director for truck tyres in the UK and Republic of Ireland. His subsequent roles took him through North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East, and Europe. In 2008 he became a member of the Group Executive Committee and in 2014 he was appointed COO. Florent was named Managing General Partner in 2018 and CEO in 2019. Prior to his career at Michelin, Florent was GM at the Norbert Dentressangle Group and Excel Logistics France. He began his career in 1986 at Price Waterhouse.
Leadership
Florent’s leadership philosophy is grounded in a strong sense of corporate purpose, which he sees as a guiding force that helps organisations stay aligned with their values and make clear decisions, particularly during periods of uncertainty or challenge. He advocates a balanced approach to leadership that gives equal weight to environmental responsibility, people development, and business performance. This mindset is reflected in Michelin’s leadership model, where leadership is viewed as a shared responsibility and individuals are assessed not only on economic results, but also on their contribution to people and the planet, reinforcing a culture of accountability at every level.
Florent Menegaux
CEO, Michelin Group
CEO, Mastercard
Bio
Appointed CEO of Mastercard in 2021, Michael Miebach was previously President, Chief Product Officer, and President Middle East & Africa. He is also a board member of the American Red Cross, IBM, the Metropolitan Opera, the World Resources Institute, and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, as well as a trustee for the United States Council for International Business (USCIB). Prior to joining Mastercard, Michael was Managing Director at Barclays Bank (2007-2010) and General Manager at Citi (1994-2007).
Leadership
A champion of sustainability, equity, and more inclusive technology, Michael has focused on digital transformation since becoming CEO of Mastercard in 2021, particularly on harnessing innovation to expand financial inclusion and enhance payment experiences. He is also a leading advocate for greater global collaboration and intelligence-sharing on cybersecurity, arguing that it underpins trust in the digital economy and is essential if everyone is to benefit from emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
Michael Miebach
CEO, Mastercard
CEO, Var Group
Bio
A former champion skier, Francesca Moriani has been CEO of Var Group since 2014. Previously she was Value Business Manager at Computer Gross, where she was responsible for the entire IBM hardware, software, and services business. Her career began as Telesales Manager for IBM in Dublin, following an MBA in International Management from the University of Brighton. Francesca is the author of 2025 book, Braveship – The Courage to Innovate: Embracing the Journey to Distributed Leadership.
Leadership
As a female CEO of an IT company, Francesca aims to make Var Group an open organisation where responsibility is distributed, information is transparent, and bureaucracy is absent. A longtime LinkedIn influencer and winner of the 2024 Microsoft Power Women Award, Francesca developed the concept of “braveship”, which she describes in her book of the same name as a mix of courage, responsibility and autonomy, rigour and creativity that makes audacity overflow beyond “simple” leadership.
Francesca Moriani
CEO, Var Group
CEO, Microsoft
Bio
Chairman and CEO of Microsoft since 2014, Satya Nadella has been instrumental in transforming the company into a global leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. His career at Microsoft began in 1992 and before becoming CEO, he served as executive vice president of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise Group, where he championed the company’s shift to cloud computing. His foresight and commitment to innovation led to the development of Azure, which has become one of the most significant cloud platforms in the industry. Under Satya’s leadership, Microsoft has undertaken major acquisitions including LinkedIn, GitHub, and Mojang.
Leadership
Satya has fostered a profound cultural shift within Microsoft, championing collaboration and openness. He forged partnerships with former rivals like Apple, Google, and Linux, and opened Microsoft’s software to other platforms, embodying a spirit of interconnectedness in the tech ecosystem. Renowned for his empathetic leadership style, Satya transformed the company culture from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” mindset, advocating for continuous learning and humility. His focus on inclusivity, inspired by personal experiences, has guided Microsoft toward purpose-driven growth and social responsibility, as outlined in his book Hit Refresh.
Satya Nadella
CEO, Microsoft
CEO, Chanel
Bio
Global CEO of Chanel, Leena Nair is the first woman of colour and first industry outsider to lead the iconic luxury brand. Prior to joining Chanel, she spent nearly three decades at Unilever, where she rose to become the company’s first female chief human resources officer. In this role, she transformed Unilever’s culture by implementing policies that championed diversity, equity, and inclusion, achieving gender parity in leadership and committing to a living wage across the supply chain.
Leadership
Since becoming CEO in 2022, Leena has brought a fresh, human-centric perspective to Chanel, focusing on sustainability, diversity, and preserving the brand’s rich heritage while modernising its operations. Leena’s career reflects a consistent commitment to social responsibility and purposeful leadership. Her transformative impact at Unilever established the company as an employer of choice in over 50 countries, supporting its brand equity and sustainable growth. At Chanel, she has extended this ethos, strengthening the brand’s dedication to renewable energy and sustainable practices while introducing innovative concepts like private invite-only boutiques. Known for her humanistic style, Leena serves as an inspiring role model, particularly for women and people of colour. By aligning Chanel’s growth with a focus on human potential and ethical luxury, she has set a new standard for leadership in the industry.
Leena Nair
CEO, Chanel
CEO, Novartis
Bio
A physician-scientist and CEO of Novartis, Vas Narasimhan previously held several leadership roles including Global Head of Development for Novartis Vaccines, and Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine in the US, a member of the board of fellows at Harvard Medical School, and the board of trustees at the University of Chicago. In 2026, he became a board member of Anthropic, as well as a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. A passionate conservationist, Vas is Chair of the African Parks Network in South Africa.
Leadership
Listed as one of the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health in 2025, Vas is on a mission to improve human health worldwide. He has worked on public health issues including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in Africa, India, and South America. At Novartis, by leading a strategic and cultural transformation toward a fully focused medicines company, his goal is to advance novel technologies at scale. In 2024, Novartis was named the #1 company by the Access to Medicine Foundation, for improving access to medicine in low-to-middle-income countries. While spearheading a digital revolution to use data science and technology for R&D, Vas has also led a transformation to make culture a driver of innovation, reputation, and performance.
Vas Narasimhan
CEO, Novartis
President and CEO, GE Appliances
Bio
President and CEO of GE Appliances, Kevin Nolan is a seasoned engineer with a career at GE and GE Appliances spanning 35 years, progressing through a variety of cross-functional roles in different GE businesses. In 2006 he became Chief Technology Officer for GE Appliances and took on the same role for Qingdao Haier 10 years later. Kevin has been responsible for establishing the company’s overall technical vision and global product roadmaps and led the Global Product and Technology Synergy Committee. As CEO since its acquisition by Haier in 2016, Kevin has led GE Appliances through a major transformation from traditional appliances manufacturer to an innovative, tech-driven, customer-focused business.
Leadership
A passionate innovator, in 2014 Kevin co-founded the open co-creation global community FirstBuild. In 2023 he opened CoCreate in Stamford Connecticut, a manufacturing facility, design and experience centre for the local community. His leadership and commitment to communities across the U.S. has been broadly recognised, including being named one of the “Most Admired CEOs” in GE Appliances’ hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. He works directly and through several organisations to attract new businesses to the area, promote STEM programs in schools and community centres, and mobilise resources to close the digital and educational gap. In 2020, he was recognized by Louisville Business First for exemplary leadership with a focus on employees and the community during the COVID-19 response.
Kevin Nolan
President and CEO, GE Appliances
Founder and CEO, Acumen
Bio
Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and CEO of Acumen, a global non-profit dedicated to social impact and moral leadership. Known for her pioneering concept of ‘Patient Capital,’ Jacqueline has reshaped philanthropy by championing an investment model that supports market-based solutions to poverty. Her journey began at age 25, when she left a promising career on Wall Street to move to Africa, where she founded Rwanda’s first microfinance institution, Duterimbere, and worked with the World Bank and UNICEF to support underserved communities. This experience shaped her belief in empowering individuals as active participants in their own development, rather than passive recipients of aid. In 2001, Jacqueline launched Acumen, which has since invested over $135 million in 136 enterprises, impacting more than 300 million people.
Leadership
Jacqueline’s leadership style is defined by her commitment to moral leadership and her belief in dignity-driven approaches to poverty alleviation. Her influence extends globally; she serves on multiple advisory boards and her books, The Blue Sweater and Manifesto for a Moral Revolution, detail her journey and vision for a world where every individual has the opportunity to succeed. “Jacqueline has made a profound difference in countless lives by using entrepreneurship to alleviate poverty and empower people. I loved her book Manifesto for a Moral Revolution. It’s a fantastic guide to ethical leadership and meaningful change. She inspires me every day!” – Zeynep Ton (Thinkers50 Talent Award 2023.
Jacqueline Novogratz
Founder and CEO, Acumen
Founder of LEAP Africa and African Food Changemakers; co-founder of Sahel Consulting
Bio
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is an entrepreneur, business leader, and author with three decades of experience in agriculture and food systems, consumer goods, strategic consulting, and philanthropy. She has worked extensively across Africa, driving business growth, shaping policies, and galvanizing the next generation of leaders through her roles as founder of LEAP Africa and African Food Changemakers and co-founder of Sahel Consulting, AACE Foods, and Wealth4Impact. She recently served as the President/CEO of ONE, overseeing teams in the US, Europe, and Africa, galvanizing billions in investment to ensure healthier lives and economic opportunities in Africa. She started her career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co in Chicago.
Leadership
Recognised as a Schwab Fellow and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Ndidi is a TED speaker and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including a National Honor by the Nigerian Government and the Harvard Business School Distinguished Alumni Award. She is the author of Social Innovation in Africa: A Practical Guide for Scaling Impact (Routledge, 2016) and Food Entrepreneurs in Africa: Scaling Resilient Agriculture Businesses (Routledge, 2021). Ndidi serves on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, Fondation Chanel, Stanbic IBTC Group, the ONE Campaign, and the Bridgespan Group.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
Founder of LEAP Africa and African Food Changemakers; co-founder of
Sahel Consulting
President and co-founder, Xiaohongshu
Bio
Miranda Qu is the president of Shanghai-based social and e-commerce company, Xiaohongshu (“Little Red Book”), which she co-founded in 2013 with CEO Charlwin Mao. The platform now has over 260 million monthly active users and has become a gathering place for the latest lifestyle trends in China – a destination that empowers users to make informed consumption decisions. Previously, she spent six years working in marketing at the Fortune Global 500 company Bertelsmann. Miranda has been listed by and featured in Forbes, Fortune, and the World Economic Forum.
Leadership
Miranda has driven innovation and scaled Xiaohongshu into a mass lifestyle/commerce platform – a community-led model where users share “authentic” lived experience at scale. She is widely recognised as a leading female business builder in Asia, creating and nurturing a platform where content, trust, and transaction are engineered as one system – not bolted-on monetization. Xiaohongshu’s ability to attract and develop talent has been externally recognized, for example being named to LinkedIn’s “2025 Global Talent Magnet Employer” list. Miranda’s vision has helped define a new category: China’s leading lifestyle community that converges discovery, trust, and commerce, reshaping how shopping and travel decisions are made.
Miranda Qu
President and co-founder, Xiaohongshu
CEO, WPP
Bio
CEO of WPP since 2025, Cindy Rose was previously COO, Global Enterprise, at Microsoft President of Microsoft Western Europe, and CEO of Microsoft UK. She has extensive experience as a leader in the technology, telecommunications, media, entertainment, and creative industries gained at world-leading brands including Vodafone, Virgin Media, and The Walt Disney Company. She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours in recognition of her services to UK technology.
Leadership
A firm believer in a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning, Cindy has a proven track record of growing large-scale businesses, building enduring client relationships, and delivering growth. A vocal proponent of outcome-based remuneration, she aims to overhaul how WPP’s global client leaders are paid, tying it directly to client growth. By simplifying and integrating company structure, her mission at WPP is to make the company the trusted partner for the world’s leading brands in the age of AI.
Cindy Rose
CEO, WPP
CTO and global head of engineering, BNY
Bio
A chartered engineer, Leigh-Ann Russell is the chief technology officer and global head of engineering at BNY. She is also a member of the BNY Executive Committee. Prior to joining BNY in 2024 she held prominent roles at BP, including membership on BP’s Executive Committee, Executive Vice President of Innovation and Engineering, and Chief Risk Officer. Her career has consistently focused on engineering and operations, leading large teams at executive levels.
Leadership
At BNY, Leigh-Ann oversees a high-performing global team of technologists who are driving the development of cutting-edge digital solutions that enhance client experience, ensure security and resilience, and drive BNY’s platforms forward with innovative software, infrastructure, and technologies. Her leadership reflects a commitment to fostering innovation, advancing engineering excellence, and ensuring operational resilience.
Leigh-Ann Russell
CTO and global head of engineering, BNY
Founder, Social Innovation Academy
Bio
Etienne Salborn is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Social Innovation Academy (SINA), a transformative initiative empowering disadvantaged youth and refugee communities in Africa to become self-sufficient social entrepreneurs. His journey began in Uganda in 2006 when he initiated an educational sponsorship program for orphans. By 2013, recognising the need for long-term support, he established SINA. Today, the academy operates across 24 communities in ten countries, helping participants transition from aid recipients to active changemakers through a unique model of ‘freesponsibility’ – a blend of freedom and responsibility.
Leadership
Etienne’s leadership style is marked by a deep commitment to trust and self-management. He believes that communities thrive when given ownership over their futures, and this ethos underpins SINA’s structure. He is also recognised as an academic lecturer and has received accolades including ‘Influential Leader’ by AACSB and ‘Innovation Ecosystem Builder’ by MIT D-Lab. Etienne’s dedication to self-sustaining social impact has not gone unnoticed. Under his leadership, SINA has garnered international recognition from Barack Obama and Ban Ki-moon. His legacy lies in redefining empowerment as a process rooted in local leadership, proving that lasting social innovation is achieved by fostering autonomy and resilience from within. Through SINA, Etienne continues to inspire a new generation of leaders who are reshaping their communities with dignity and purpose.
Etienne Salborn
Founder, Social Innovation Academy
CEO, Temasek
Bio
Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara joined Temasek in 2010 and was appointed CEO in 2021, a role that covers all entities under Temasek Holdings. He has held various leadership roles within the company, including Head of Investment, Portfolio Management, and Enterprise Development Groups. Prior to joining Temasek, Dilhan was the Managing Partner of law firm, WongPartnership LLP.
Leadership
As a sovereign wealth fund of Singapore, Temasek is a unique organisation that must balance its mission of delivering strong returns while also delivering on social impact. Dilhan’s leadership centres on clearly articulating the organisation’s purpose, then aligning the whole organisation around that purpose – a bold move for a finance organisation where all the professionals are used to being compensated around financial returns. As leader, he has not only revamped Temasek’s strategy but also build a strong culture that sets the foundation for the future, with purpose remaining front as centre to ensure resilience in turbulent times.
Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara
CEO, Temasek
Co-CEO, Netflix
Bio
Ted Sarandos has been responsible for all content operations at Netflix since 2000 and was named co-CEO in 2020. He led the company’s transition into original content production in 2013, the year he was first named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, an accolade he received again in 2025. He received the Producers Guild of America Milestone Award in 2019 and a CBE from King Charles in 2024 for services to the UK creative industries and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2026. Ted also serves on several arts and media boards, including Spotify and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Leadership
Under Ted’s leadership, Netflix has transformed not only its own business but the way televisions is made, distributed, and consumed. He helped steer the company from technology platform to global entertainment powerhouse, championing original content and challenging established industry conventions with innovations such as releasing entire series at once. His leadership combines a willingness to make bold bets with a strong belief in creative freedom, giving talented people the autonomy to take risks and pursue distinctive ideas. At the heart of his approach is a readiness to keep reinventing – even when the existing model is working.
Ted Sarandos
Co-CEO, Netflix
Chairman, Siemens AG
Bio
Chair of Siemens AG since 2018, Jim Hagemann Snabe is a board member of Bloom Energy and Temasek, Vice Chair of Urban Partners, and an adjunct professor at Copenhagen Business School. Prior to joining Siemens in 2013 Jim spent 17 years at SAP, with four as CEO, where he was instrumental driving strategic development to double the company’s value and play a more responsible role in society. He is also the former chair of A.P. Møller-Mærsk and former chair of Northvolt AB, where he championed innovation and decarbonization across industries. Jim has been a board member of the World Economic Forum since 2014.
Leadership
Jim is a pioneer of the Tech for Life movement, which addresses one of the most important challenges business executives face today: how to put trust back into technology. In his 2021 book, Tech For Life (co-authored with Lars Thinggaard, Spintype), he provides a roadmap for how technology can be employed to contribute to society, create opportunities for all, and always be human-centred. In his 2018 book, Dreams and Details: Reinvent Your Business and Your Leadership from a Position of Strength (co-authored with Mikael Trolle, Publishare), Jim sets out a new leadership model that replaces bureaucracy with human creativity – a new type of leadership for continuous reinvention; one that helps develop and unleash human potential to achieve exceptional performance.
Jim Hagemann Snabe
Chairman, Siemens AG
Chair and CEO, AT&T
Bio
CEO of AT&T since 2020, John Stankey was elected as Chair of the Board in 2025. Since joining the company in 1985, he has served in a variety of roles, including Chief Operating Officer, CEO of WarnerMedia; CEO of AT&T Entertainment Group; Chief Strategy Officer; Chief Technology Officer; CEO of AT&T Operations; and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions. John holds a BBA in Finance from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA from UCLA.
Leadership
Since taking the role of CEO at AT&T in 2020, John has led a remarkable turnaround of the 150-year-old company. He has committed to reducing the business’ carbon footprint, by retiring its copper-based infrastructure and disparate networks, moving to a sustainable fleet with electric vehicles, deploying as much alternative energy as possible, and buying renewable energy. Unafraid to implement change, he has made the hard decisions in how the business is operated to create an agile, capable, and fully engaged workforce.
John Stankey
Chair and CEO, AT&T
President and CEO, Marsh Risk
Bio
President and CEO of Marsh Risk and Vice Chair of Marsh, Nick Studer was previously CEO of Oliver Ryman and Marsh Management Consulting. He has held several roles during his career to date, including Managing Partner of the Financial Services Practice; Managing Partner of the Consumer, Industrial and Services Practice; and Head of the European Finance and Risk Practice. He is a founding director of TheCityUK, a founding advisory board member of the FICC Markets Standards Board, and a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Leadership
Nick’s published work includes contributions to a proposed 10-year vision for the UK’s Financial Services sector for Her Majesty’s Treasury, as well as several initiatives shaping the global debate on compensation. He is co-author of WEF article ‘What leaders can learn from developing countries about re-building trust’ and ‘GCC is a world leader in AI usage – but that comes with risks’, which highlights the data risks leaders must manage with the advent of generative AI tools. Hear from Nick in the CEO Leadership Series podcast.
Nick Studer
President and CEO, Marsh Risk
Chair and CEO, AMD
Bio
Chair and CEO of AMD, Lisa Su has spearheaded the company’s transformation into a leader in high-performance and adaptive computing. Since joining AMD in 2012, she has taken on several leadership positions, integrating AMD’s business units, operations, and infrastructure into a unified, market-facing organisation. Her strategic insight culminated in her appointment as CEO, where she led AMD’s revival and cemented its position as a major competitor in the semiconductor industry.
Leadership
Lisa’s impact extends beyond organisational performance. Known for her innovative leadership style, she advocates for bold, calculated risks, creating a culture that embraces ambitious technological advancement. Her public service roles, including appointments to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the Department of Homeland Security’s AI Safety and Security Board, reflect her commitment to ethical leadership in technology. She’s also a spokesperson and role model for women’s leadership, working closely with the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s women’s leadership initiative. Through her leadership, Lisa has positioned AMD as a force driving the future of technology, leaving a lasting impact in an industry reshaped by her quest for progress, innovation, and inclusivity.
Lisa Su
Chair and CEO, AMD
Executive Vice-President and President, Sun Life Canada
Bio
Jessica Tan is Executive Vice-President and President of Sun Life Canada. Previously, she worked in Asia for 20 years in Greater China, India, and Southeast Asia. She was CEO of insurance company Ping An and a partner at McKinsey, working in Asia and North America with financial services companies and regulators. She serves as Chair for Dialogue and joined the board of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. She sits on boards including Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Financial Centre Advisory Panel, the Singapore Central Provident Fund, SEA Group, Global Finance & Technology Network, Asia Society Global Board of Trustees, Oxford Blavatnik School of Government, and AGE-WELL elderly care/tech organization in Canada.
Leadership
Jessica is widely recognized as a transformative leader. She has been recognized on Forbes’ The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list and ranked top five on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list for five consecutive years (2019–2023). In her role at Sun Life Canada she has focused on driving at scale, while keeping clients at the centre, setting new standards for access to care, financial security, and improved quality of life. Her tech-forward leadership approach has cut insurance application processing times by more than 40% and accelerated decision-making, advisor workflows, and access to coverage and support. Jessica is committed to bridging the gap to underserved communities and has been celebrated for delivering meaningful impact through both performance and purpose.
Jessica Tan
Executive Vice-President and President, Sun Life Canada
CEO, Sutter Health
Bio
Warner Thomas took over as CEO of Sutter Health in 2022. Sutter Health is the largest health system in California and provides healthcare to all of Silicon Valley and most of northern California. Previously, he was President and CEO of Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest healthcare provider, employer, and educator of medical professionals. Warner is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives; served as a member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Board of Trustees, and as Chairman of AHA’s Health Systems Governing Council. He also served on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to advise Congress on issues affecting Medicare. In 2025, he was recognised by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare and named by Becker’s Hospital Review to its list of 61 Health System CEO Influencers and among its Great Healthcare Leaders to Know.
Leadership
When Warner took the reins of Sutter Health, the system was in disarray and in a tailspin of cost-cutting and reducing services – along with pending litigation with insurance companies. Physicians were leaving in droves, and morale was at an all-time low. The most common word used to describe the culture was toxic. “The transformation of this system in three years is nothing short of spectacular,” says Ranjay Gulati, Thinkers50 #9 Ranking and recipient of the Thinkers50 Leadership Award 2025). “Warner has done an incredible job of taking a system in decline to one of the fastest-growing health systems in the region. In so doing, they have changed the business strategy, organisational system, and leadership. He quickly assembled a new leadership team that did the heavy lift of sharpening their strategic focus. From there they immediately tackled crafting an organisational purpose that put patients at the centre of everything. They re-set the relationship with physicians, community leaders, and its employees. They are on a record expansion plan with new centres and facilities across California and beyond. At the heart of it all is their purpose – we are here to serve patients while taking care of our employees. The most common word now used by employees in a survey to describe their culture is ‘inspiring’.”
Warner Thomas
CEO, Sutter Health
SVP and CTO, Honeywell; President of Honeywell Connected Enterprise
Bio
Suresh Venkatarayalu joined Honeywell in 1995, having begun his career at India’s Department of Defense Research and Development. He has held senior engineering, technology, and business leadership roles across the organisation. He also served as President of Honeywell Technology Solutions, where he scaled global engineering operations across emerging markets and helped globalise Honeywell’s R&D footprint. Suresh holds an Executive MBA from the Indian Institute of Management and a B.Eng in computer science from Bharathidasan University, India.
Leadership
A strong advocate for talent development and inclusive leadership, Suresh actively mentors emerging leaders across Honeywell’s global organisation. As Senior VP, CTO, and President of Honeywell Connected Enterprise, his principal focus is helping customers transform and automate their operations at scale. Suresh drives Honeywell’s core innovation engines, leading the company’s global technology strategy, connected solutions, and software business. Suresh also leads Honeywell’s Software Transformation Initiative, developing new products, executing complex projects, scaling software solutions, and opening new markets and verticals through close customer co-creation.
Suresh Venkatarayalu
SVP and CTO, Honeywell; President of Honeywell Connected Enterprise
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