1. Demis Hassabis

Who is he: Co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, a cutting-edge AI research company.

Why admire him: He’s driving major breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, DeepMind has done things like AlphaFold (which maps protein folding) — work that’s reshaping biology, medicine, and science. He’s not just a business figure; he’s a real pioneer.

2. Elon Musk

Who is he: Entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and more recently, xAI.

Why admire him: His vision is huge — electric vehicles, space exploration, and AI. He’s deeply ambitious, and even though people have very mixed opinions about him, you can’t deny his impact on technology and the future.

3. Muhammad Yunus

Who is he: Nobel Peace Prize winner, social entrepreneur, and a former adviser to Bangladesh’s government.

Why admire him: He pioneered microfinance (through Grameen Bank) and has spent his life working to reduce poverty. His inclusion on the TIME100 list is also tied to his political leadership in Bangladesh.

4. Mo Abudu

Who is she: Nigerian media mogul, founder of EbonyLife Group.

Why admire her: She’s transforming how African stories are told globally. Through her media company, she’s building platforms for African creatives, reshaping global perspectives, and empowering new voices.

5. Serena Williams

Who is she: Tennis legend, businesswoman, and cultural icon.

Why admire her: Beyond her greatest-of-all-time status in tennis, she’s a role model: advocating for equity, pushing limits, and showing how to reinvent yourself after a sports career (entrepreneurship, investing, etc.).

Who are your current most favorite people?