-
Steve Jobs
Inventor + Businessman
Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American businessman, designer and inventor. He is best known as the co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple... More from Wikipedia
It’s hard for [consumers] to tell you what they want when they’ve never seen anything remotely like it.
Notable Achievements:
- iPod (+ GUI)
- Mac interface/OS/mouse-control
- iTunes marketplace
- iPhone + iPad
- Pixar animation
-
Albert Einstein
Scientist + Teacher
Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics... More from Wikipedia
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
Notable Achievements:
- Theory of Relativity
- ‘E = mc2’ (a.k.a., mass–energy equivalence)
-
J.K. Rowling
Author + Businesswoman
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE, FRSL (born July 31,1965), better known as J. K. Rowling, is a British novelist, best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention... More from Wikipedia
Anything's possible if you've
got enough nerve.Notable Achievements:
- Creator of the Harry Potter characters + stories, the best-selling book series in history
- Rapid rise from humble means to substantial wealth, influence + charitable giving
-
Benjamin Franklin
Author, Inventor + Politician
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist... More from Wikipedia
An investment in knowledge
pays the best interest.Notable Achievements:
- Electricity/lightning rod
- Public library
- Fire department
- Insurance company
- Bifocals
-
Richard Branson
Businessman + Adventurer
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies. His first business venture was a magazine at the age of 16... More from Wikipedia
Business opportunities are
like buses, there's always
another one coming.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Virgin Group Limited, a diverse venture capital organization consisting of more than 400 companies around the world, ranging from travel to entertainment to food/beverage to telecommunications and more
- Renewable energy technologies development ($3 billion investment pledge)
-
Jackie Robinson
Baseball Great + Civil Rights Icon
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American baseball player who became the first black Major League Baseball (MLB) player of the modern era... More from Wikipedia
I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me...All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.
Notable Achievements:
- African Americans in Major League Baseball
- Stealing home
-
Frank Lloyd Wright
Architect + Writer
Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works... More from Wikipedia
An idea is salvation by imagination.
Notable Achievements:
- Organic architecture
-
Issy Sharp
Entrepreneur + Philanthropist
Isadore "Issy" Sharp, OC (born October 8, 1931) is a Canadian businessman and founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. In 1952, he graduated from Ryerson University... More from Wikipedia
Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you. That set in
place the culture of the company,
which gave us service, which
allowed us to become the best.Notable Achievements:
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
- The Terry Fox Run charity event
-
Bono
Musician + Activist
Paul David Hewson (born May 10, 1960), most commonly known by his stage name Bono, is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2... More from Wikipedia
The world is more malleable than
you think and it's waiting for you
to hammer it into shape.Notable Achievements:
- Rock bank U2
- Live 8 Concert
- Co-founder of DATA, EDUN, the ONE Campaign, Product Red
- Co-founder of Integral Capital (technology-centric VC firm)
-
Oprah Winfrey
Media Mogul + Philanthropist
Oprah Winfrey (born Orpah Gail Winfrey January 29, 1954) is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show... More from Wikipedia
I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk.
Notable Achievements:
- Global influence of woman + African Americans
- OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
- Oprah's Angel Network + Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
-
Thomas Edison
Inventor + Businessman
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph... More from Wikipedia
The value of an idea
lies in the using of it.Notable Achievements:
- Lightbulb
- Phonograph
- Motion pictures
- Stock ticker
-
Leonardo
Da VinciArtist + Inventor
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist... More from Wikipedia
I have been impressed with
the urgency of doing. Knowing is
not enough; we must apply. Being
willing is not enough; we must do.Notable Achievements:
- Paintings Mona Lisa and The Last Supper
- Iconic drawing known as Vitruvian Man
- Early conceptualizing of a helicopter, tank, calculator + solar energy
- Groundbreaking discoveries in anatomy, optics + engineering
-
Bill Campbell
Businessman
William "Bill" V. Campbell is the current Chairman of the Board and former CEO of Intuit Inc., and a board director at Apple, Inc. He formerly worked for Apple Inc. (as VP of Marketing), Claris (as CEO), and GO... More from Wikipedia
Everybody talks about great
companies. Great companies
start with great products.Notable Achievements:
- Advancements in financial + tax prep software as former CEO + current Chariman of the Board of Intuit
- Known as the "Coach of Silicon Valley" for his role as advisor to superstars like Apple (Board Member), Google + Amazon
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University
- Tablet computer OS development
-
Henry Ford
Inventor + Businessman
Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production... More from Wikipedia
You can't learn in school what the world is going to do next year.
Notable Achievements:
- Mass production/assembly line
- Ford Model T
-
Ronald Reagan
U.S. President + Entertainer
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. Prior to that, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and a radio, film... More from Wikipedia
Don’t be afraid to see what you see.
Notable Achievements:
- Movie star turned U.S. president
- "Reaganomics"
- End of the Cold War
-
Li Ka-shing
Business Magnate + Philanthropist
Sir Ka-shing Li, GBM, KBE, JP (born June 13, 1928 in Chaozhou, China) is a Hong Kong based business magnate. He is the richest person of Asian descent in the world and the ninth richest person in the world... More from Wikipedia
Broaden your vision, and maintain stability while advancing forward.
Notable Achievements:
- Commercial empire spanning manufacturing, retail, real estate, technology, banking, hospitality, shipping + other fields
- Li Ka-Shing Foundation
- Substantial donations to medical facility advancements + disaster relief efforts
-
Herb Brooks
Hockey Coach + Motivator
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. (August 5, 1937 – August 11, 2003) was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States’ men’s hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union... More from Wikipedia
You can’t be common,
the common man goes nowhere;
you have to be uncommon.Notable Achievements:
- "Miracle on Ice" upset by American amateurs over Soviet team + subsequent Olympic Gold Medal championship in 1980
- Hybrid North American + European style of hockey
- Strict player conditioning standards
-
Walt Disney
Artist, Entertainer + Entrepreneur
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon... More from Wikipedia
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
Notable Achievements:
- Mickey Mouse
- Disney theme parks
- Multiplane camera (for animation)
- Full-length animated cartoon
-
Margaret Thatcher
British Prime Minister
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS, née Roberts (born October 13, 1925) is a British politician and the longest-serving (1979–1990) British prime minister of the 20th century... More from Wikipedia
You may have to fight a battle
more than once to win it.Notable Achievements:
- First + only woman to server as Britain’s Prime Minister
- Deregulation + privatization policies
-
Herb Kelleher
Businessman
Herbert "Herb" Dwight Kelleher (born March 12, 1931) is the co-founder, Chairman Emeritus, and former CEO of Southwest Airlines (based in the United States)... More from Wikipedia
We have a strategic plan.
It’s called doing things.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Southwest Airlines
- Secondary market/airports strategy
- Customer-friendly policies + culture
-
Nelson Mandela
South African President + Peacemaker
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (born July 18, 1918) is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election... More from Wikipedia
Education is the most powerful
weapon which you can use
to change the world.Notable Achievements:
- Abolition of apartheid
- Leader of South African democracy + equality
- Co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe (part of the African National Congress)
-
Howard Schultz
Businessman + Author
Howard Schultz (born July 19, 1953) is an American business magnate. He is best known as the chairman and CEO of Starbucks and a former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics. Schultz co-founded Maveron... More from Wikipedia
Risk more than others think safe. Dream more than they think practical. Expect more than they think possible. Care more than they think wise.
Notable Achievements:
- Starbucks’ European cafe-style setting, products + experience
- Investor in Jamba Juice
-
Pablo Picasso
Painter + Sculptor
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso, known as Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973), was a Spanish painter... More from Wikipedia
Every act of creation is first
an act of destruction.Notable Achievements:
- Cubist movement in paiting
- Constructed sculpture
- Plastic arts emergence
-
Kathy Ireland
Model + Entrepreneur
Kathleen Marie "Kathy" Ireland (born March 20, 1963) is a former American model, actress, and entrepreneur. She is the CEO of her design and marketing eponymous brand product marketing company... More from Wikipedia
It’s never too late to learn.
Notable Achievements:
- Fashion model turned business mogul
- Founder of kathy ireland Worldwide, or kiWW
-
Lou Holtz
Football Coach, Author + Motivator
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary... More from Wikipedia
Life is ten percent what happens
to you and ninety percent how
you respond to it.Notable Achievements:
- Leading multiple college football programs to bowl games
- Motivational speaking business
-
Wright Brothers
Inventors + Aviators
The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane... More from Wikipedia
If we all worked on the
assumption that what is accepted
as true is really true, there would
be little hope of advance.Notable Achievements:
- Human flight
- First practical fixed-wing aircraft
- Three-axis control technique for aircrafts
-
The Beatles
Musicians + Pop Culture Icons
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music... More from Wikipedia
We all want to change the world.
Notable Achievements:
- "British Invasion" + "Merseybeat" popularity
- Concept albums
- Orchestral + experimental accompaniments in rock/pop music
-
Christopher Columbus
Explorer
Christopher Columbus (before October 13, 1451 – May 20, 1506) was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in what is today northwestern Italy... More from Wikipedia
Following the light of the sun,
we left the Old World.Notable Achievements:
- European discovery of American continents
- Multiple trans-Atlantic voyages
- Spanish colonization
-
Andrew Carnegie
Businessman + Philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie (November 25, 1835 – August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century... More from Wikipedia
The first man gets the oyster,
the second man gets the shell.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Carnegie Steel Company, which became U.S. Steel
- Creator of Carnegie Hall, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Carnegie Institution of Washington + Carnegie Mellon University
- Founder of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, among other efforts in support of world peace
-
Michael Jordan
Basketball Player + Entrepreneur
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats... More from Wikipedia
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Be afraid not to try.Notable Achievements:
- Athlete turned business mogul
- Mega endorsements including Nike’s Air Jordan shoe brand
- "Fadeaway" jump shot
- Unparalleled NBA awards + records
-
Vinod Khosla
Technologist + Investor
Vinod Khosla (born January 28, 1955) is an Indian-born American venture capitalist and an influential personality in Silicon Valley. Khosla was one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems... More from Wikipedia
Where most entrepreneurs fail
is on the things they don’t
know they don’t know.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder of Sun Microsystems
- Founder of Khosla Ventures, a leader in clean technology investing
-
Ralph Lauren
Businessman + Fashion Icon
Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Lifshitz, October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand... More from Wikipedia
I don’t design clothes,
I design dreams.Notable Achievements:
- Polo brand of clothing, fragrances, housewares + other items
- Founder of Ralph Lauren Corporation
-
Sam Walton
Businessman
Samuel Moore "Sam" Walton (March 29, 1918 – April 5, 1992) was a businessman and entrepreneur born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Walmart and Sam’s Club... More from Wikipedia
Capital isn’t scarce; vision is.
Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Walmart + Sam’s Club retailers
- Small-town store strategy
- Self-owned trucking + distribution
-
Chuck Yeager
Military General + Pilot
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923) is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound (1947)... More from Wikipedia
Rules are made for people who aren’t willing to make up their own.
Notable Achievements:
- Travel faster than the speed of sound
-
Arnold Palmer
Golfer + Businessman
Arnold Daniel Palmer (born September 10, 1929) is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s professional golf... More from Wikipedia
You must play boldly to win.
Notable Achievements:
- Global popularity + commercialization of golf
- First PGA Tour competitor to earn $1 million
- First golf course in the People’s Republic of China
- Co-founder of The Golf Channel
- Golf-related businesses including course design + facilities
-
George Lucas
Writer + Filmmaker
George Walton Lucas, Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American film producer, screenwriter, director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm... More from Wikipedia
Everybody has talent, it’s just
a matter of moving around until
you’ve discovered what it is.Notable Achievements:
- "Star Wars" + "Indiana Jones" saga/films
- Founder of Lucasfilm
- Founder of THX Ltd, Skywalker Sound, Industrial Light & Magic + LucasArts
- Founder of The George Lucas Educational Foundation
-
Magic Johnson
Basketball Player + Broadcaster
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA)... More from Wikipedia
You’re the only one who can
make the difference. Whatever
your dream is, go for it.Notable Achievements:
- Career highlights include 3 NBA MVP Awards, 9 NBA Finals appearances + 12 All-Star games
- Played as a member of the "Dream Team" + won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 with the U.S. men’s basketball team
- Enshrined in Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002
- Honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
-
Gordon Moore
Scientist, Businessman + Philanthropist
Gordon Earle Moore (born January 3, 1929) is the co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corporation. He is the author of Moore’s Law, published in an article April 19, 1965 in Electronics Magazine... More from Wikipedia
I view this year’s failure as
next year’s opportunity to try
it again. Failures are not
something to be avoided.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founded Intel Corporation with Bob Noyce in 1968
- Named member of Board of Directors for Gilead Sciences in 1996
- Received PhD in Chemistry and minor in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1954
- Donated $600 million to Caltech, the largest gift ever to an institution of higher education
-
Ferdinand Porsche
Automotive Engineer
Ferdinand Porsche (3 September 1875 – 30 January 1951) was an Austrian-German automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle... More from Wikipedia
I wanted to build cars that
were not something to everyone,
but meant everything to some.Notable Achievements:
- Founder + former CEO of Porsche
- Developed the first hybrid vehicle in the 1920s
- Created the Volkswagen Beetle + Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles
- Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996
-
David Sarnoff
Businessman + Media Visionary
David Sarnoff (February 27, 1891 – December 12, 1971) was an American businessman and pioneer of commercial radio and television. Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA)... More from Wikipedia
The will to persevere is
often the difference between
failure and success.Notable Achievements:
- Revolutionized American commercial radio + television as president of RCA + NBC
- Credited with Sarnoff’s Law: the value of a broadcast network is proportional to the number of viewers
- Inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame (1975), National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1977) + Radio Hall of Fame (1989)
-
Michael Milken
Human Capitalist, Financier + Philanthropist
Michael Robert Milken (born July 4, 1946) is an American business magnate, financier, and philanthropist noted for his role in the development of the market for high-yield bonds (also called junk bonds)... More from Wikipedia
The future of our country is
not found in our boardrooms,
but in our classrooms.Notable Achievements:
- Pioneer in the field of high yield bonds
- Founder of the Milken Family Foundation, a nonprofit that has worked with more than 1,000 organizations around the world
- Founder of the Prostate Cancer Foundation
- Founder of the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan group that strives to create a more-informed public + improved economic environment
-
Billie Jean King
Tennis Player + Equal Rights Activist
Billie Jean King (born November 22, 1943) is an American former professional tennis player. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles... More from Wikipedia
Be bold. If you’re going to make
an error, make a doozy and don’t
be afraid to hit the ball.Notable Achievements:
- First female commissioner in professional sports history (1984)
- Won "The Battle of the Sexes" tennis competition (1973)
- Named one of the "Ten Most Powerful Women in America" by Harper’s Bazaar (1997)
- Listed as one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" by Life Magazine (1990)
-
John Doerr
Technology Investor
L. John Doerr (born June 29, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in Menlo Park, California, in Silicon Valley. In February 2009, Doerr was appointed... More from Wikipedia
People are looking to have more
meaning in their lives. It is a sign
the technology community is
coming of age.Notable Achievements:
- Helped lead Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers investments in Compaq, Netscape, Symantec, Sun Microsystems, Google + Amazon.com, effectively sparking the creation of Web 2.0
- Served on President Barack Obama’s Economic Recovery Board
- Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2010
-
Winston Churchill
Political + Military Leader
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British Conservative politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War... More from Wikipedia
The price of greatness
is responsibility.Notable Achievements:
- Two-time British Prime Minister
- Regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century
- Held a multitude of British political + cabinet positions over a 50-year career of service
- Nobel Prize for Literature (1953)
-
Larry Ellison
Businessman + Sailing Enthusiast
Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Ellison (born August 17, 1944 in The Bronx, New York City, New York) is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, one of the world’s leading... More from Wikipedia
When you innovate, you’ve got
to be prepared for everyone
telling you you’re nuts.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder + CEO of Oracle Corporation
- Sponsor of sailing team USA 17, which placed first in the 33rd America’s Cup
- Founder of the Ellison Medical Foundation
-
Chris Whittle
Businessman + Educator
Chris Whittle (born August 23, 1947) is an American media and education entrepreneur. He is the chief executive officer of Avenues: The World School, a planned international system of independent pre-K-12 ... More from Wikipedia
My greatest worry is that we
have not broken the bounds.Notable Achievements:
- Visionary CEO of Avenues: The World School
- Founder of Edison Schools
- Founder of Whittle Communications, one of America’s top 100 media companies in the '80s
-
Estée
LauderBusinesswoman
Estée Lauder (July 1, 1906– April 24, 2004) was an American businesswoman. She was the co-founder, along with her husband, Joseph Lauder, of Estée Lauder Companies, her eponymous cosmetics company... More from Wikipedia
When I thought I couldn’t go on,
I forced myself to keep going.
My success is based on
persistence, not luck.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Estée Lauder
- Received the French government’s Insignia of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1978
- Winner of the Gold Medal award by the city of Paris in 1979
- Recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in Business (1970) + Outstanding Mother of the Year (1984)
-
Secretariat
Race Horse
Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting race records in all three events... More from Wikipedia
He was not a horse—
he was Secretariat.Notable Achievements:
- 9th U.S. Triple Crown Champion (1973)
- Inducted into the U.S Racing Hall of Fame (1974)
- Memorialized on a U.S Postage Stamp (1999)
-
Fred Smith
Businessman
Frederick Wallace Smith (born August 11, 1944), or Fred Smith, is the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx, originally known as Federal Express, the first overnight express delivery company in the world... More from Wikipedia
I’m not afraid to take
a swing and miss.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of FedEx
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a platoon leader + forward air controller
- Served on the boards of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital + Mayo Foundation
- Member of the Aviation Hall of Fame
-
Brin + Page
Computer Scientists + Businessmen
Sergey Brin and Larry Page are computer scientists and internet entrepreneurs, best known as the co-founders of Google, one of the most profitable Internet companies. Page serves as CEO and Brin remains... More from Wikipedia
As we go forward, I hope we’re
going to continue to use technology
to make really big differences in
how people live and work.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founders of Google Inc.
- Early investors in Tesla Motors
- Named the 5th most powerful people in the world by Forbes in 2009
-
Peter Lynch
Investor + Author
Peter Lynch (born January 19, 1944) is a Wall Street stock investor. He is currently a research consultant at Fidelity Investments. Lynch graduated from Boston College in 1965 and earned a Master... More from Wikipedia
To make money, you must find
something that nobody else knows,
or do something that others won’t do
because they have rigid mind-sets.Notable Achievements:
- Explosive growth of Fidelity’s Magellan Fund, from $18 million in assets under management in 1977 to over $14 billion when he retired in 1990
- Author of One Up on Wall Street, Beating the Street, and Learn to Earn
- Founder of the Lynch Foundation, a philanthropy driven nonprofit organization
-
Pete
RozelleFootball Executive
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle (March 1, 1926 – December 6, 1996) was the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office... More from Wikipedia
I strongly believe that sports are an
emotional outlet, just as television
and motion pictures are.Notable Achievements:
- Commissioner of the NFL for 30 years, persiding over a period of significant growth
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985
- Honored as the namesake of the Super Bowl MVP trophy
-
Ely Callaway
Entrepreneur
Ely Reeves Callaway Jr. was an Entrepreneur, Textiles Executive, Winemaker and Vintner and Golf Club Manufacturer. He had three successful careers – first in textiles, next in wine and finally in golf. Born in 1919... More from Wikipedia
[Create a product that is]
demonstrably superior and
pleasingly different from the
competition in some
significant ways.Notable Achievements:
- Established Callaway Golf, the world’s largest golf club manufacturer
- Recipient of Emory University’s Emory Medal (1990) + an honorary doctor of humane letters degree (1996)
-
John Mackey
Businessman + Social Activist
John Mackey (born August 15, 1953) is an American businessman. He is the former CEO of Whole Foods Market which he had co-founded in 1980. Named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003... More from Wikipedia
My philosophy is that life is all about
learning and growing, and that life
can be a real adventure of learning,
growing, compassion and joyfulness.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder & CEO of Whole Foods
- Active advocate of free market economics + the movement for organic food
- Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2003)
-
Phil Knight
Businessman + Athlete
Philip Hampson "Phil" Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American business magnate. A native of Oregon, he is the co-founder and chairman of Nike, Inc., and previously served as the chief executive officer of Nike... More from Wikipedia
Our job is to wake up the
consumers. If we become
predictable, that’s not
waking them up.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder + chairman of Nike
- Ran track for the University of Oregon and posted a personal best 4:10 mile
- Inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2000
- Inaugurated as a 2012 inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
-
Roger Penske
Businessman + Racing Enthusiast
Roger S. Penske (born February 20, 1937) is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive-related businesses. Penske was named 1961’s Sports Car Club... More from Wikipedia
When we leave here after the race, we’re already thinking about next year’s race. That’s the kind of preparation it takes to be successful.
Notable Achievements:
- Owner + founder of Penske Racing + the Penske Corporation
- Corporate Director at General Electric
- Chairman of Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan (2006)
-
John Wooden
Basketball Coach + Author
John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period... More from Wikipedia
When you improve a little each
day, eventually big things occur...
Not tomorrow, not the next day, but
eventually a big gain is made...Notable Achievements:
- Named basketball All-American three times + led his team to a national championship as a player at Purdue
- Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1961) + coach (1973)
- College Basketball Player of the Year (1932)
- The Sporting News "Greatest Coach of All Time" (2009)
-
Charles Schwab
Businessman
In 1963 Charles R. "Chuck" Schwab and two other partners launched Investment Indicator, an investment newsletter. At its height, the newsletter had 3,000 subscribers, each paying $84 a year to subscribe... More from Wikipedia
A man can succeed at almost
anything for which he has
unlimited enthusiasm.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder + chairman of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
- Appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy
- Started the Charles & Helen Schwab Foundation for children with learning disabilities + AD/HD
-
John Templeton
Investor
Sir John Marks Templeton (November 29, 1912 – July 8, 2008) was an American-born British stock investor, businessman and philanthropist. John Templeton was an investor and mutual fund pioneer... More from Wikipedia
I wouldn’t call it radical; I would
call it enthusiasm for progress.Notable Achievements:
- Founded the Templeton Growth Fund, which posted a 13.8% annualized average return from 1954 to 2004
- Founder of the John Templeton Foundation
- Considered by many to be one of the greatest investors of all time
-
Steve Wynn
Businessman
Stephen Alan "Steve" Wynn (born January 27, 1942) is an American business magnate who played a pivotal role in the 1990s resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip. His companies refurbished or built... More from Wikipedia
Change is not threatening.
Notable Achievements:
- Founder + current CEO of Wynn Resorts, with hotels in both Las Vegas + Maccau
- 2012 Manfred Steinfeld Humanitarian Award winner
- Considered one of the greatest real estate developers in American history for his work in the hospitality sector
-
Hewlett + Packard
Engineers + Businessmen
William (Bill) Redington Hewlett and Dave Packardare the founders of Hewlett-Packard. Founded in a one-car garage in Palo Alto, CA, the company specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, data storage... More from Wikipedia
The greatest success goes to the
person who is not afraid to fail in
front of even the largest audience.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founders of Hewlett-Packard
- Together, they were named the 1995 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
- Packard served as deputy secretary of defense in President Nixon’s first administration
-
Masaru Ibuka
Industrialist + Author
Masaru Ibuka (born April 11, 1908) was a Japanese electronics industrialist. In 1946 he and Akio Morita co-founded Sony Corporation, originally named Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation... More from Wikipedia
Creativity comes from looking
for the unexpected and stepping
outside your own experience.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder of Sony Corporation in 1946
- Decorated by the Emperor of Japan with the First Class Order of the Sacred Treasures (1978), the First Class Order of the Rising Sun with Grand Cordon (1986) + Order of Culture (1992)
- Received IEEE Founders Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (1972)
-
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey Player + Coach
Wayne Douglas Gretzky (born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams... More from Wikipedia
You miss 100 percent of
the shots you don’t take.Notable Achievements:
- NHL’s all-time leader in goals, assists + points
- Four-time Stanley Cup Champion + five-time winner of the league’s Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship + performance
- Immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame upon his retirement from the NHL in 1999
- Member of the Order of Canada
-
Bill Gates
Businessman, Author + Philanthropist
William Henry "Bill" Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, computer programmer and philanthropist. Gates is the former chief executive and current chairman of Microsoft... More from Wikipedia
We are not even close to finishing the
basic dream of what the PC can be.Notable Achievements:
- Co-founder + chairman of Microsoft
- Established Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with a charitable endowment of $33.5 billion
- Ranked as the world’s wealthiest person overall from 1995 to 2009
- Author of The Road Ahead (1995) + Business @ the Speed of Thought (1999)
-
Jeff Bezos
Businessman
Jeffrey Preston "Jeff" Bezos ( born January 12, 1964) is an American entrepreneur who played a key role in the growth of e-commerce as the founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com, Inc... More from Wikipedia
What’s dangerous is not to evolve.
Notable Achievements:
- Founder + CEO of Amazon.com
- Time Magazine’s Person of the Year (1999)
- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of Americas best leaders in 2008
- Recipient of The Economist Innovation Award for his work on the Amazon Kindle
-
Alice
WatersRestauranteur + Author
Alice Louise Waters (born April 28, 1944) is a US chef, restaurateur, activist, and author. She is the owner of Chez Panisse, a Berkeley, California restaurant famous for its organic, locally grown ingredients... More from Wikipedia
Every change ultimately
is one for the better.Notable Achievements:
- Owner of Chez Panisse, recognized as one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- Author of Chez Panisse Cooking + The Art of Simple Food
- Founder of the Chez Panisse Foundation + Edible Schoolyard
-
John Chambers
Businessman
John T. Chambers (born August 23, 1949) is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc. Chambers joined Cisco in 1991 as senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Operations. Since January 1995... More from Wikipedia
Education and the Internet must go
hand in hand... It will serve as
one of the great equalizers.Notable Achievements:
- Chairman + CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc. since 1995
- Received awards for leadership including Time Magazine’s "100 Most Influential People"
- Vice Chairman of National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) under President George Bush
-
John Sperling
Businessman + Educator
John Sperling is an American businessman who is credited with leading the contemporary for-profit education movement in the United States. His fortune is based on his founding of the for-profit University of Phoenix... More from Wikipedia
You should never delude yourself
into thinking that you know
exactly where you’re going.Notable Achievements:
- Founder of Apollo Group Inc.
- Author of Rebel with a Cause, The Great Divide: Retro vs. Metro America
-
Mike Krzyzewski
Basketball Coach + Motivator
Michael William "Mike" Krzyzewski (nicknamed "Coach K"; born February 13, 1947) is an American basketball coach and former player. Since 1980, he has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke... More from Wikipedia
Imagination has a great deal
to do with winning.Notable Achievements:
- Amassed the most Division 1 NCAA men’s basketball wins in college history
- Led Duke to 13 ACC Championships, 11 Final Fours + 4 NCAA Tournament Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010)
- Selected as head coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics + winning the gold medal
-
Marc Andreessen
Technologist + Investor
Marc Lowell Andreessen (born July 9, 1971) is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, software engineer, and multi-millionaire best known as co-author of Mosaic, the first widely-used web browser, and co-founder... More from Wikipedia
This is the start of a revolution
unlike any we’ve ever seen.Notable Achievements:
- One of only six inductees in the World Wide Web Hall of Fame
- Member of the board of directors of Facebook, eBay + HP
- Awarded the 1997 W. Wallace McDowell Award for his groundbreaking work surrounding Netscape
-
Rupert Murdoch
Businessman
Keith Rupert Murdoch (born March 11, 1931) is an Australian American media mogul. Murdoch became managing director of Australia’s News Limited, inherited from his father, in 1952. He is the founder, Chairman... More from Wikipedia
I’m a curious person interested in
the great issues of the day, and I’m
not good at holding my tongue.Notable Achievements:
- CEO of NewsCorp
- Received the Companion of the Order of Australia Award in 1984 for achievement and meritorious service
- Honored with the Simon Wisenthal Humanitarian Laureate Award
- Managed over 800 companies in more than 50 countries
-
Ray Kroc
Businessman
Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an American businessman who joined McDonald’s in 1954 and built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world... More from Wikipedia
Take calculated risks. Act boldly and thoughtfully. Be an agile company.
Notable Achievements:
- Founded the McDonald’s Corporation in 1955
- Built a global restaurant system famous for uniform methods + high quality
- Recognized among the Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century
Sort:
- Technology
- Knowledge
- Business
- Sports
- Arts + Entertainment
- Public Service
- All
Our team has spent the past 20 years immersed in the global
growth economy—delivering authoritative market analysis and
insights through the GSV blog, plus newsletters, conferences,
and other digital as well as offline media.