Nick O’Donohoe, CEO, Big Society Capital
“If we achieve our goal, in the future the invisible heart of markets will guide the invisible hand to improve the lives of those who would otherwise be left behind.” – Sir Ronald Cohen Vision: A world where investors ask themselves a different question: not “What is the risk and return?”, but “What is the risk, return and impact?” Action: […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Malala Yousafzai, Education activist and Nobel laureate
“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” Vision: An education for all girls regardless of their culture, religion or gender. Action: Yousafzai turned an attack on her life into an opportunity. Since her near-death incident, there has been an international outpouring of support for Yousafzai and her cause, to the point […]
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 […]
Jane Elliot, Schoolteacher
“Keep me from ever judging a man until I have walked a mile in his moccasins.” Vision: Eliminating racial discrimination by showing similarities rather than differences. Action: In 1968, Elliot needed to explain Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to her class. Her innovative approach to highlight different racial perspectives made her pupils feel what it […]
David Goswick, CEO, HOUZE
“Promote the energy sustainability sector as a whole, as this promotes energy security and helps avoid global conflicts over oil.” Vision: To create the most affordable and cleanest energy house in the world. Action: Created a zero energy house that guarantees no energy bills for 10 years. Goswick has engaged NASA scientists to create new technologies that change […]
Shari Arison, Businesswoman, philanthropist
“If there’s no planet, there’s no bottom line.” Vision: To be a catalyst for bringing about positive change to people, society and the planet. Action: The Arison Group operates two channels, business and philanthropy, as complementary platforms for doing good. Arison’s wide circle of businesses and organizations have created a large footprint to inspire change. […]
Nancy Lublin, CEO, Do Something
“I am not a charity. I run a charity. These are different things. If we want the best minds solving the biggest problems, it’s time we learned the difference.” Vision: Being more honest about failure in the nonprofit sector. Action: One of the largest organizations for young people and social change, their 3.4 million members create […]
