Business leadership and entrepreneurship could never be better, and we find ourselves surrounded by some of the most influential businessmen and innovators. Corporate leaders in India and abroad inspire individuals and embrace their entrepreneurial spirit, thereby contributing to making a difference in the world. Let us take a look at some of the most powerful business leaders across the globe.
Powerful Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders Transforming Businesses
Mary Barra
Mary Barra is the CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors of General Motors since 2014. The 59-year-old Barra is said to be the first woman to lead one of the big three automakers of the US. Barra was listed fourth on Forbes Most Powerful Women in 2018 and Forbes 50 Over 50 in 2021. Apart from strengthening the vehicle business and customer experience of General Motors, Mary Barra has championed the cause of women’s empowerment and equality.
Marc Benioff
Marc Benioff is the Chairman and CEO of Salesforce, one of the leading cloud computing companies in the world. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the 57-year-old is listed as one of the wealthiest people in the world. In 2009, Marc Benioff was named one of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. His leadership has made Salesforce a top CRM (customer relationship management) software provider and a fast growing software company across the globe.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is one of the best-known entrepreneurs in the world. The 57-year-old is the Chairman and CEO of Amazon. Apart from regularly featuring in Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people of the world, Jeff Bezos has also steadily featured in the Forbes list of billionaires of the world. He started Amazon as a small enterprise in his garage and turned it into one of the biggest companies in the world. The e-commerce titan is continuing to grow at an unprecedented pace.
Sanjiv Bajaj
Sanjiv Bajaj is the Chairman and Managing Director of one of India’s largest financial services companies, Bajaj Finserv. Listed among India Today’s 50 Most Powerful People in 2017-18, 52-year-old Bajaj has led the digital transformation of India by backing fintech innovations and encouraging financial inclusivity across the country by making services accessible to the underbanked and underpenetrated. In 2019, Sanjiv Bajaj was awarded the Banker of the Year title by Financial Express. Counted among the top NBFC leaders in India, he currently holds the office of President-Designate of CII for 2021-22.
Warren Buffett
Warren Buffet is the Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and is one of the world’s best-known business leaders and investors. Berkshire Hathaway is a business group that owns several reputed brands and companies. Listed 6th on the Forbes list of billionaires of the world in 2021 and 16th among the world’s most powerful people in 2018, 91-year-old Warren Buffet champions the causes of angel investing, personal frugality, and donating to charitable causes.
Ursula Burns
63-year-old Ursula Burns held the office of CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016, Chairwoman of Xerox from 2010 to 2017, and Chairwoman of VEON since 2017. She was the first black woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Listed among the Forbes Power Women 2016 and Forbes World’s Top 50 Women in Tech, Ursula Burns has served in leading advisory and leadership roles in the US.
Brian Chesky
Brian Chesky, the Co-founder and CEO of the peer-to-peer lodging and home rental company Airbnb, is another famous corporate leader we admire. In 2015, Chesky was listed on Forbes America’s Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40. The following year, he featured on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People for 2015. 40-year-old Brian Chesky has come to be recognised for leveraging innovation and technology and for his entrepreneurial spirit.
Tim Cook
CEO of Apple Inc. since 2011, Timothy Cook is a visionary leader. In 2019, he was named one of the top Innovative Leaders by Forbes. Passionate about innovative technology, cyber security, and environmental activism, 61-year-old Tim Cook has led Apple to spectacular success.
Corporate leaders in India and across the world are scaling new heights, both in business and philanthropy. There is much we can learn from them. We find inspiration in their ability to leverage new technology and innovation and their passion for motivating and inspiring people by bridging geographical gaps. What is more is that this new group of leaders is extremely accessible and visible, largely due to their presence on social media and their participation in national and community development.
