20+ Famous Business Leaders Who Built Empires

Kingdoms and empires come to rule and then go away. But some companies have proved this notion wrong. There have been companies that have shown great development and innovation. It’s their leaders that have taken them to the peak. 

Leaders have the potential to enhance the company’s image and keep the productively going and growing for years. 

In this article, let us discuss some of the best leaders who have achieved success in the professional field due to their vision and attitude toward the company. 

They were different in the sense that they were never scared of failure. They would take a step forward and would do their best to fulfill their dreams and achieve their goals.

18 Famous And Influential Business Leaders 

1. Tim Cook

Tim Cook is Apple’s CEO and one of the most influential business leaders. After Steve Jobs died, Tim Cook created a positive transition in the company. He was a very good manager and, at the same time, a supportive leader. After Jobs, he came up with many retail lines for the company. 

His strategies such that Apple could become the ultimate winner even though there were leading competitors in the market. Under Tim Cook, Apple achieved the mark of USD 3 Trillion market cap.

2. Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code. A setup that provides technical training to the field to teach them coding. 

She is a successful lawyer, business leader, and politician. She had a never-give-up attitude. 

She established her name in the technology field and was responsible for generating many entry-level jobs for females. 

3. Bob Iger

Bob Iger is currently the CEO of Walt Disney Corporation. His leadership style could take the company to the next level. 

He is naturally creative and has a perfect eye on which business to buy. He also acquired Pixar, Lucas, and many other big names to empower Disney to a considerable extent. He also extended the company’s legacy by opening Disney theme parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

4. Mary Barra

Mary Barra has been associated with General Motors for a long time. Initially, she was into product development and supply chain. 

In 2014, she was CEO of General Motors. She is one of the influential leaders, as she never changed her focus. She developed a team that could enhance the company’s growth. 

She could see the competition and challenges much prior; hence, her strategies would reflect the solutions. She is working to make the company stay ahead in the EV space.

5. Reed Hastings

A famous name in the industry, reed Hastings is the founder and CEO of Netflix. He could bring about many positive changes in the world of digital entertainment. 

His vision and belief system were responsible for the company’s excellent position in the market. 

6. Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg has been CEO of Facebook since 2008 till 2022. By profession, she is an advocate. 

She is one of the influential leaders who have the willingness to succeed in life. Even though she would not much stay in the limelight, it is believed that for Facebook’s success, she was the major energy source.

7. Jan Koum

Koum had started his career as a security tester. He worked at yahoo. But later, he took an innovative step and developed Whatsapp. 

It is one of the most used apps these days. Later Koum sold Whatsapp to Facebook. This transaction is one of the most popular ones in the digital space. He could fetch USD 19.3 billion for this deal.

8. Bill Gates

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, is someone whom you should remember to mention in the list when it comes to leading and influential leaders. He had a great vision and worked hard to attain the best position in the industry. 

He also successfully placed his name on the wealthiest business people list year after year. These days he is spending more of his time on several ventures that relate to the environment and social causes.

9. Pony Ma

Pony Ma is the founder of Tencent, one of the biggest internet companies in China. Even though he falls on the influential business leader list, he has a secretive lifestyle. 

He is said to be one of the most powerful business leaders with connections with foreign companies. But he prefers to keep all this information under wraps.

10. Jack Ma

Jack Ma is one of the leading Businessmen in China who could also have his name in Forbes magazine. 

He founded Alibaba and a few more companies. His love and vision for technology could bring him to this level. Initially, after graduation, he applied for many jobs. But he had seen a lot of rejection. 

But when his knowledge and love for the internet started growing, he got actively involved in these ventures. Even though he started with a small project, he came up with one of the biggest IPOs, which is surely a mark in history.

11. Jeff Bezos

Who doesn’t know Jeff Bezos? He founded Amazon and took it to the best position. In the year 2021, he was the wealthiest person in the world. 

He started as just an online bookstore. But now Amazon is the world’s best online store for many products. He never compromised in setting standards. He would set goals and would do his best to achieve them. 

12. Jeff Weiner

Jeff Weinet founded Linkedin in the year 2002. It is one of the most used social media platforms. He is also involved in many non-profit organizations. He has taken the company to the peak of success.

He has also stayed strong in providing professional opportunities to those associated with him. His unique mentorship style could make a perfect team, leading to effective results for the company.

13. Elon Musk

Elon Musk is a very popular name, and people know him for Tesla motors. He also founded Paytm and SpaceX. His deep love for technology could involve him in such projects. He had a very good insight into technology and knew it would take the world ahead. 

He, therefore, actively got involved in projects that were sustainable and technologically excellent. He is also part of many projects that involve AI and solar power.

14. Larry Elison

Larry Elison co-founded Oracle in 1977. The company could stay at its peak for most of the time, and even today, it has a great name in the technology space. He was an American businessman, billionaire, and a great leader who could make the company successful. 

15. Warren Buffet

Warren Buffer is popularly known as the Wizard of Ohama. He is one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. His investment strategies are quite popular, and he is a role model for many stock market enthusiasts. 

He is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He has given away a large part of his wealth to many social and philanthropic causes. 

16. John Zimmer

Jogn Zimmer co-founded Lyft, and the business started in 2012. Even though it started as a small venture, it is one of the biggest on-demand transport companies today. The business model uses hi-tech features to provide the best results. 

The company is far ahead of its rivals today, and that’s due to Zoimmer’s vision and dedication.

17. Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin is co-founder of Alphabet and one of the world’s richest businessmen. He is also quite influential and responsible for many great tech space projects.

 He is a computer scientist by qualification and has a great interest in internet-based projects. He could take the company to the next level.

18. Carlos Slim

Carlos Slim runs America Movil. It is one of the leading telecom projects in Latin America. He is also a popular name in Mexico for running construction companies. He has a net worth of USD 84.2 billion.

The above list has the best and the top most business leaders who were game-changers for their businesses. It should be crucial to study what made them that way. How could they focus on things, and what was the drive that could take them ahead in the race?

19. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins is a world-renowned business leader, motivational speaker, and self-help author whose influence and impact have transformed the lives of millions of people around the globe.

With his charismatic personality, powerful presence, and proven strategies for success, Robbins has become a household name and an icon in the world of personal development and business leadership.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or aspiring leader, Tony Robbins has the tools and insights to achieve your goals, overcome challenges, and unleash your full potential.

20. Richard Branson

Richard Branson is a visionary entrepreneur and business leader whose daring exploits and innovative ideas have earned him a reputation as one of our time’s most successful and influential figures.

From founding the Virgin Group, a global conglomerate of over 400 companies spanning industries such as music, airlines, and telecommunications, to breaking world records with his adventurous stunts, Branson has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible and inspired generations of aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams with passion and tenacity.

Whether you’re looking to build a business empire, make a positive impact on the world, or live life to the fullest, Richard Branson’s insights and experiences are sure to inspire and empower you.

21. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was a visionary business leader whose innovative ideas and groundbreaking products revolutionized the world of technology and changed the way we live, work, and communicate. As co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., Jobs was responsible for some of the most iconic products of our time, including the iPhone, iPad, and Macintosh computers.

His relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to design, simplicity, and user experience set a new standard for the technology industry and inspired a generation of entrepreneurs to think differently and embrace creativity and innovation.

Whether you’re an aspiring tech visionary or simply looking for inspiration to pursue your passions, Steve Jobs’ legacy is sure to inspire and motivate you to strive for greatness.

22. Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey was a highly respected business leader, author, and motivational speaker whose groundbreaking ideas and best-selling books have profoundly impacted personal and professional development.

His most famous work, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and is considered a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and overall success in life.

Covey’s focus on principles-based leadership, character development, and effective communication has inspired countless individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential and positively impact the world.

Whether you’re a business executive, an aspiring leader, or simply looking to live a more fulfilling life, Stephen Covey’s timeless insights and wisdom are sure to inspire and empower you to reach your goals and achieve your dreams.

23. Jack Welch

Jack Welch was a legendary business leader and former CEO of General Electric (GE) who is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential executives of his time.

During his 20-year tenure at GE, Welch transformed the company into a global powerhouse and a model of corporate excellence, earning him the nickname “Neutron Jack” for his ruthless focus on efficiency and profitability.

Welch’s leadership philosophy, which emphasized continuous improvement, decentralized decision-making, and a relentless focus on results, has inspired generations of business leaders and entrepreneurs to strive for excellence and embrace change as a key driver of success.

Whether you’re looking to build a successful career in business, lead a large organization, or learn from one of the most successful business leaders in history, Jack Welch’s insights and experiences are sure to inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals and reach your full potential.

24. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a cultural icon, media mogul, and business leader whose inspiring journey from poverty to self-made billionaire has made her one of the most influential and beloved figures of our time.

As the host of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the highest-rated talk show in American television history, Oprah has used her platform to empower and uplift millions of people around the world with her messages of hope, inspiration, and personal growth.

In addition to her media empire, Oprah has been involved in a wide range of philanthropic and social justice initiatives, including establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

Whether you’re a fan of her talk show, her books, or her various media ventures, Oprah Winfrey’s resilience, determination, and commitment to making a difference in the world inspire anyone looking to achieve success and impact.

Conclusion

These influential leaders might have common traits related to leadership style, their vision for the business, and the thirst to achieve goals. 

They all were ace in their businesses. They had diverse qualifications and experience. But what would have made them so successful? Well, their love and passion for their work and the idea implementation strategies could be the force guiding them. 

It is crucial to understand more about their professional lives so that there can be an idea about what made them the way they are. They teamed up with the best individuals and were always available for support. 

These reasons might be enough for them to become the best business leaders. They walked along with the technological changes and other developments in their respective industries. They were all dynamic and ready to change with time. 

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