Tim Cook
Tim Cook, born on November 1, 1960, has been the CEO of Apple Inc. since 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. He joined Apple in 1998 and played key roles in operations and sales. As CEO, he advocated for social issues and drove Apple’s financial growth, doubling revenue and profit from 2011 to 2020.
Cook’s leadership centers on people, strategy, and execution. He fosters a collaborative culture, distancing from Jobs’ micromanagement. Cook increased charitable donations and focused on sustainability, hiring an EPA head for renewable energy.
Publicly, Cook supports LGBT rights, becoming the first openly gay Fortune 500 CEO. He tackles political issues like immigration and data privacy and advocates for diversity and inclusivity. He is resilient and committed to Apple’s growth and positive impact.
Jeff Bezos
Jeffrey Preston Bezos, born January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an American businessman, media proprietor, and investor. He founded, was Amazon’s CEO, and is now its executive chairman. He significantly shaped e-commerce, cloud computing, streaming, and AI.
Bezos excelled academically, became valedictorian, and got a Princeton scholarship. He founded Amazon in 1994, which expanded rapidly. He started Blue Origin for accessible space travel, acquired The Washington Post in 2013, and manages investments via Bezos Expeditions.
His Amazon success made him the first centibillionaire with net worth fluctuations. Bezos is philanthropic, launching the Day One Fund for education, the Bezos Earth Fund for climate change, and investing in tech, healthcare, and science via Bezos Expeditions.
Bezos co-founded Altos Labs for longevity research. His image transformed from business leader to philanthropist and space advocate. He values customer-centricity, innovation, and a “Day 1” mindset. Bezos’ journey from Amazon’s start to ventures in space, media, and philanthropy reflects his significant impact on technology, business, and society.
Mary Barra
Mary Teresa Barra, born December 24, 1961, in Royal Oak, Michigan, is an American businesswoman. She’s been the CEO and chair of General Motors since 2014, becoming the first female CEO of a ‘Big Three’ automaker. Barra graduated from the General Motors Institute, later receiving an MBA from Stanford.
She began at GM 1980 and held diverse roles, including managing the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant. She became CEO in 2014 and oversaw GM’s expansion into electric and driverless cars. Barra’s tenure included managing safety recalls and changing company culture after memories. She led GM’s move into electric and autonomous vehicles, acquiring startups like Strobe.
Barra serves on boards including Disney and Stanford University. She’s been listed on Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list and received honors for leadership and integrity. She’s a car enthusiast and speaks some Finnish.
Bill Gates
Born in 1955 in Seattle, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft, a leading software company. He showed programming talent at 13, starting Microsoft with Paul G. Allen, adapting BASIC for microcomputers. Key moment: licensing MS-DOS to IBM’s first PC. Strategic moves made Microsoft vital and Gates wealthy. He focused on software, including Windows, and handled antitrust challenges. Contributions grew with the Internet as Microsoft went online. Beyond Microsoft, Gates’s philanthropy, including the 2000 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, stood out. He shifted focus to the Foundation and social impact.
Founded in 2000 by Bill and Melinda Gates, their Foundation addresses global disparities through programs in development, health, and the US. They cover areas like agriculture, medical research, public health, education, and awareness. Philanthropy, rooted in civilizations like the Middle East, Greece, and Rome, involves voluntary, socially beneficial efforts. European merchants initiated causes in the 17th and 18th centuries, and wealth led to private foundations in the late 19th century. Figures like Carnegie and Peabody advanced these efforts, while foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation supported arts, education, research, and social services.
Larry Page
Lawrence Edward Page, born on March 26, 1973, is an American billionaire who co-founded Google with Sergey Brin. He was Google’s CEO for multiple periods and later as Alphabet’s CEO, Google’s parent company. His net worth is about $112 billion as of June 2023. He invested in flying car startups Kitty Hawk and Opener.
Page co-created Google’s PageRank algorithm, received the Marconi Prize, and grew up with a tech interest in Lansing, Michigan. He studied at the University of Michigan and Stanford University. He and Brin created Google’s Foundation and developed the PageRank idea.
1998-2000, Page and Brin started Google, Inc., raising funds, receiving $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim. They officially founded Google, Inc. in 1998 with the domain “Googol,” representing vast data exploration. They started in a garage, later moving with a $1 million loan.
Page and Brin aimed to organize information universally. By June 2000, Google indexed a billion URLs, excelling due to Page’s management. Page removed project managers in 2001, emphasizing technical leadership. Under Page’s leadership, Google expanded, focusing on products better than competitors. He pushed tech advancement and reshaped Google in 2015, creating Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai led Google, and Page stepped down as Alphabet CEO in 2019, remaining a shareholder.
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani is a major figure in India’s business world. He’s in charge of Reliance Industries, a big company that makes chemicals, oil, and gas and runs stores.
Mukesh studied Chemical Engineering and Business at good universities. Mukesh is focusing Reliance on clean energy and plans to spend a lot of money to make that happen. He’s part of important groups like the World Economic Forum. He’s made Reliance into a huge company with interests in many areas, including technology and retail.
One big thing he did was start Jio Platforms, which provides phone and internet services. In 2016, Jio made history by offering 4G broadband to people across India.
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg was born to immigrant parents. He studied engineering at Johns Hopkins University and business at Harvard University. He worked at Salomon Brothers investment bank and quickly climbed the ranks.
In 1981, after Salomon Brothers was acquired, Bloomberg used his $10 million buyout to start his own company, which he later named Bloomberg LP. The company became a leader in financial data services, known for its Bloomberg Terminal, a comprehensive financial information source.
Bloomberg served as the mayor of New York City for three terms, focusing on improving transportation, housing, and education. He also supported public health and environmental causes. After leaving office, he returned to managing his company and engaged in philanthropic efforts. Bloomberg is also known for his philanthropy, donating over $12.7 billion to various causes.
Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg, born on August 28, 1969, is a tech executive, philanthropist, and writer known for impactful roles at major firms and promoting gender equality. Notably, Sandberg takes an active stance against gender stereotypes, advocating against labeling girls as “bossy” and empowering young girls with self-confidence and leadership skills. Her impactful public speaking engagements revolve around critical themes such as gender parity, leadership, and resilience, inspiring positive transformations.
Sandberg was Meta’s COO until August 2022, previously COO at Facebook. She led profitably and was the first woman on Facebook’s board in 2012. Beginning at the World Bank, she assisted Lawrence Summers and led Google’s advertising expansion. Beyond corporate roles, she founded LeanIn.Org, empowering women. A vocal gender equality advocate, she’s recognized in Time 100 and Forbes billionaires. In June 2022, she left Meta’s COO role but remained on the board.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg is an American computer programmer known for co-founding and leading Facebook, a popular social networking website. He launched Facebook in 2004 while at Harvard, initially as a platform for Harvard students to share information and photos. The site quickly grew in popularity, expanding to other campuses and eventually to a global audience. Zuckerberg emphasized real connections and networking among users. He moved the company to California and secured funding from investors.
Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on Facebook, and the company received significant investments. He turned down a buyout offer from Yahoo! and partnered with companies like Microsoft. In 2021, Facebook’s parent company was renamed Meta Platforms, signaling a focus on the “metaverse” and virtual reality interactions.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur, inventor, and investor, is known for co-founding firms like Tesla, SpaceX, and Boring Company. His notable achievements include developing PayPal and being deeply involved with Tesla Motors. Musk’s visionary approach has raised awareness about solar energy, high-speed transportation, and artificial intelligence.
Musk’s contributions have transformed various industries:
- Tesla: Musk financed and spearheaded Tesla Motors, unveiling electric vehicles such as the Roadster, Model S, Model X, and Model to tackle environmental issues and advance eco-friendly transportation.
- SpaceX: Musk founded SpaceX, focusing on affordable rocket launches. SpaceX’s value soared in a few years, with achievements like the Falcon rockets, Dragon spacecraft, and involvement in NASA’s Artemis program.
- Boring Company: Musk established Boring Company to tackle traffic congestion, raising funds at a significant valuation in 2022.
- Twitter: Musk’s stake led to a substantial purchase deal in 2022. Despite challenges and legal battles, the acquisition concluded, giving him significant ownership.
Musk’s innovative work has left an indelible mark on electronic payments, space exploration, electric vehicles, and more, establishing him as a prominent modern technology and business figure.