To be a great manager, you also need to be a top business leader, and many of the world’s most well known companies have some seriously smart, successful and influential business leaders at the helm.
Just like empires, companies can come and go with the times. However, there are some that last for ages, and successful influential business leader is the secret. Top business leaders have the ability to motivate employees, help others see and believe in a vision, and lead innovation in the company. Having a notably great leader at the helm is something that all investors, consumers, and employees want.
Who is the best CEO in the world? Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube. Well known or unknown, these are the most successful business leaders, few of the top influential business leaders or CEOs for long-term investors to watch as they build remarkable businesses that are worth holding for decades.
Here is a list of the top 10 influential business leaders in our nation that are changing the world.
The world’s top influential business leaders or the best CEOs typically aren’t the flashiest. They think beyond tomorrow’s share prices or the next earnings call to create lasting value. The CEOs who made the 2023 list have undeniably been effective and influential.
What’s more, whether these leaders are running a new startup or overseeing a more established brand, they need to innovate to keep the company fresh and exciting.
Listing below the top 10 business leaders in our nation
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google
Pichai’s life story is remarkable, and his rise to the top of Google is an endorsement of India’s standing in the global technology industry and equally, a reassuring reminder of the so called “American Dream”.
The 50-year-old said the pair (Alphabet and Google) had set up a “strong foundation” on which he would “continue to build”.
There is this saying of him that is quite humbling, “It is always good to work with people who make you feel insecure about yourself. That way, you will constantly keep pushing your limits.”
Sundar Pichai is an influential leader with strong beliefs, providing people with needed products that potentially makes their lives better and empowers the next generation.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase
Jamie Dimon runs JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the U.S. in terms of assets. His finance career started in 1982 at American Express and later helped build the modern day Citigroup. Jamie joined JPMorgan Chase in 2004; he became CEO and chairman soon after.
“Never fool yourselves into thinking that your success is yours alone.” Jamie Dimon
His move to unload $12 billion of subprime mortgages in 2006 buffered his bank against the 2008 crash.
Dimon has a proven record of tremendous success building and expanding the banks and other firms that he leads. His ability to navigate his companies through extreme challenges such as the 2007–2008 financial crisis has earned him a reputation as a chief executive officer (CEO) who “never loses.”
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
Mary Barra is the daughter of a G.M. die maker, Mary grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan and started working at a G.M. plant as an intern at 18.
In January 2014, she succeeded Daniel F. Akerson as chief executive and became the first woman to head a major auto company.
“My definition of ‘innovative’ is providing value to the customer”, Mary Barra.
Jack Ma, CEO and Co-Founder of Alibaba
A former English teacher, Jack Ma cofounded Alibaba Group, currently one of the largest e-commerce businesses in the world, in 1999. Ma was the first entrepreneur from mainland China to appear on the cover of Forbes magazine. He is also the founder of Alibaba Group, a group of internet companies.
His exposure to the internet was during a short trip to the U.S., and when he returned back to China, he created a small website about China and Chinese products, leading to first step towards creating a company that would hold the record for largest IPO in history.
The former high-flying billionaire stepped down as Alibaba’s executive chairman in 2019. Ma returned to China in March 2023 just as Alibaba unveiled a plan to split itself into six businesses.
Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube
Susan Wojcicki served as CEO of Alphabet subsidiary YouTube from 2014 until February 2023. She now serves in an advisory role to Google and Google-parent Alphabet.
Wojcicki spearheaded Google’s YouTube purchase. Google’s search engine dominance is also Wojcicki’s handiwork. Wojcicki has proven that balancing parenthood and being a top executive is not difficult, she’s a mom to five kids. Google is a friendly place for working parents. She advocates for federal mandatory paid parental leave, which she hopes will increase the women participation in the workforce.
James P. Gorman, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley
Gorman started his long term relationship with Morgan Stanley Company in 2006.and was named as CEO in 2010.
Gorman is often praised for the job he’s doing as CEO of Morgan Stanley.
One of the best compliment he has received a commentators from CNBC. He said that “Gorman is easily the Lebron James of Wall Street”.
One of Gorman’s employees, stating that he was glad to be on Gorman’s team.
Gorman’s leadership has many admirers in the financial industry, and he probably still has a few more years to go.
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon
Jeff Bezos is the founder CEO of the biggest retail industry globally, Amazon. It started as an online bookstore and now culminated into the world’s largest online sales company. From 2017-2021, Bezos was the wealthiest person in the world.
Employee quote on Amazon’s leadership: “Leadership values the individual features of each and every employee.”
At the heart of American entrepreneurism is the American dream, and Jeff Benzos fits that criteria into a fine mold.
With a net worth of a mind-boggling number of 185.7 billion dollars, making him the first man on the planet to do so.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX
Elon Musk is the CEO and CTO of SpaceX and is also the CEO and Chief Product Architect of Tesla Motors, showing his special interest in futuristic technology. His innovative vision and unrelenting passion for pushing the boundaries of technology and consumer integration have led to increased exposure to solar power, high-speed transportation, and artificial intelligence.
A hugely successful business leader Musk says, “The path to the CEO’s office should not be through the CFO’s office, and it should not be through the marketing department. It needs to be through engineering and design.“
Mark , CEO of Meta
Life has been a whirlwind for the chairman and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. He famously launched the ubiquitous social media website while he was still in college and later dropped out to fully focus on its development. Zuckerberg has some exciting methods of generating ideas and fostering innovation within his company. When it comes to entrepreneurship, there’s a lot that can be learnt from Zuckerberg.
“I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress.” Mark Zuckerberg
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett may be 92 years old, but he’s displaying few signs of slowing down in his later years. Buffett is currently CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and he has held these positions since 1970.
“There is no better time to teach kids about financial matters,” Buffett explained.
Warren Buffett belongs to an exceptional Investment philosophy. He is always used to give advice, warning, and explanation. This part of his character makes him an exemplary business leader in the world.
