The Top 10 Business Leaders to Watch Out for in 2023

Successful business leaders balance risk and innovation. Whether they are running a well-established institution or a startup, good business leaders inspire others with their vision. Former US president John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Some of the most famous business leaders in the world are known for helping others realize their full potential by honing their inherent talents and empowering them to take the lead. Leadership calls for you to unite your team to achieve compelling goals. 

 The top 10 business leaders to keep an eye out for in 2023 are:

 1.  Tim Cook

Taking over the reins of Apple from Steve Jobs called for mammoth shoulders, as Jobs pretty much defined the brand in the early 2000s. Many wondered what the Duke University alumni could offer that Jobs didn’t. The skeptics were in for a surprise — according to CNBC, Apple’s stock has increased by more than 480% since Cook became CEO in 2011. Tim Cook’s leadership is democratic, but he is also known to possess high expectations.  

In a commencement speech at Auburn, Cook revealed that he relied on intuition during significant decision-making processes. One of the most approachable business leaders, he always lends an ear to what people have to say before calling the shots. 

Cook is also known for prioritizing privacy and sustainability in Apple productions. As the Apple ecosystem expands, from smartwatches to reality pro headsets, Cook makes it to our list of famous business leaders to look out for in 2023 as he has his finger on what the world needs. With his focus on innovation and operational efficiencies, he has managed to craft a trillion-dollar brand that makes customers and investors equally happy. 

 2.  Elon Musk

All of this year Elon Musk has been in the news for his Twitter takeover and the ensuing controversies. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is one of the most followed business leaders in the world, as his sometimes eccentric moves have borne fruit in the long run. In a December 2021 episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, the billionaire said that one should not try to be a leader for the sake of being one. As someone who has launched everything from flamethrowers to perfume that smells like burnt hair, he knows a thing or two about leading companies.

With a Cybertruck and close to 100 SpaceX missions in the pipeline for 2023, Musk is known for making the impossible seem easy. A voracious reader, Musk has repeatedly said that he values hard work above all else and demands the same of his employees. As someone who managed to turn around the fortunes of Tesla and SpaceX, the world is curious to see how Musk will transform Twitter in the coming year. 

3.  Warren Buffet

The Oracle of Omaha is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. One of the most successful business leaders, with a net worth exceeding $100 billion as of November 2022, global leaders keenly watch his every move to predict economic changes. In the past, Buffet has revealed that he always hires the best people and lets them do their thing. He also advises that CEOS must pick people better than themselves to achieve success. 

Buffet also cautions against getting involved in enterprises that one can’t understand. For him, it was cryptocurrencies. The businessman has saved many companies from the brink of bankruptcy and breathed new life into them with his smart investments. Buffet has previously said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that the really successful people say no to almost everything.” In other words, successfully reserve their “yes” for what they deem worth their time. As the world moves towards a recession, financial experts will closely study how the self-made investor will navigate the ups and downs of the economy.

4.  Bog Iger

It has been a year of homecoming for many CEOs. Bob Iger returned to Disney this month after retiring in 2020. He was with the company for 15 years. The man who led Disney’s global expansion plan is well-liked and well-known in entertainment circles. He has been instrumental in reinvigorating Disney’s media and parks business and plans to help the company sail through some tough times. Iger is known for being open, decisive, and authentic. 

As a CEO, Iger has set his sights on revamping the company and started by instituting hiring freezes and cost cuts. He aims to make the streaming business profitable and make the company relevant for the upcoming generation.

One of the most pragmatic and visionary business leaders in modern times, in his book, he wrote, “Don’t be in the business of playing it safe. Be in the business of creating possibilities for greatness.” It will be interesting to see how Iger’s second innings at Disney will shape the global media company.

5.  Mark Zuckerberg

The Facebook CEO has found himself in hot water with investors over his investments in the metaverse market. Widely touted as the next big thing in tech, many brands and establishments have started making their presence felt in the virtual world. The American business magnate has steered Facebook to profitability and acquired Instagram and Whatsapp. 

As one of the world’s foremost tech magnates, Meta is leading the metaverse transformation but has failed to take off as planned. A recent launch of Zuckerberg’s metaverse avatar invited ridicule from social media users. As TikTok eats into business, Meta has been struggling to lure users back to Instagram and Facebook, its biggest moneymakers. Meta’s plans to redefine virtual reality are still in process and the world wants to see how the man, who reconfigured the way the world socialized, will put his stamp on this venture. In the past, Zuckerberg has said that the biggest risk is not taking any risks.

6.  Karen Lynch

If someone can diversify and steer a business into profitability even during the pandemic, you know she is a business leader worth looking up to. CVS CEO Karen Lynch grew digital customers at the company from 15 million to 45 million. A driven businesswoman, she understands that technology is the game changer in healthcare. She has plans to home-deliver care and is piloting technology to allow people to better coordinate with pharmacies for prescription pickups. One of the most popular female leaders of our time, Lynch is a force to be reckoned with. 

The recent acquisition of private care Signify Health Inc. by CVS expands the insurer’s potential by leaps and bounds. Lynch is unfazed by complexities and mistakes, as she believes they are a part of life. She mentions that it is important to course correct and thinks that healthcare is about engagement with individuals. With rock-solid confidence and ambitious plans to make primary care affordable to all Americans, Karen Lynch is a visionary business leader to watch for in 2023.

7.  Jane Fraser

The high priestess of banking, Jane Fraser, is the CEO of Citi. Despite facing a volatile economic climate, Citi returned $4 billion to shareholders and continues to hold strong amidst inflation-based headwinds.

Since taking charge, Fraser has focused her efforts on transforming Citi into the bank of the future, emphasizing digital upgrades and process improvements. 

Fraser believes that empathy can create a competitive edge. “Empathy is about listening to our clients rather than pushing a product or our idea.” She is also a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Fraser is an active member of boards that shape economic policies and an astute businesswoman who has worked to forward Citi’s ESG agenda. Business leaders are closely watching Fraser as Citi blossoms under her capable leadership.

8.  Rosalind Brewer

The CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rosalind Brewer, is one of only two Black women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Brewster is keen on improving equity and inclusion in organizations and making people feel included in the workplace. She educates people around her by being frank and open and believes that creating agile teams calls for a diversity of thought. At Walgreens, she is keen on putting together the right tools for customers and employees.

On leadership, she says, “The next level of leadership is about becoming great listeners, acting on the information, and making your people feel included.” Brewer manages over 400,000 employees worldwide and wants to create a cohesive workspace where people can collaborate and combine their smarts to solve problems. As a leader, Brewer advises people to acknowledge mistakes as soon as they realize them and to cultivate strong networks in the workplace.

9.  Julie Sweet

Julie Sweet presides over Accenture, a multinational professional service provider, and is passionate about onboarding the best talent, as it plays the biggest role in the growth trajectory of a company. Before becoming CEO, she served as Accenture’s legal counsel and brought with her a wealth of experience. She asserts that technology, data, and artificial intelligence will transform the way we work in the coming years. 

She is a huge promoter of Accenture’s culture of “shared success” and believes that to be truly successful people must work together to find solutions. Focusing on sustainability and upskilling people is one way to achieve this. Sweet prioritizes progress over perfection and is a lifelong learner.

As a working professional, she recommends exercising your right to say NO to trivial things. She says, “The ability to say No is very important.”

The world has watched in awe as she set about transforming Accenture’s business profile and utilized the company’s own metaverse to give new hires a complete experience. In an interview with Forbes, she revealed that the company mantra is, “Let there be change.” 

10.  Mary Barra

Transparency and problem-solving have defined Mary Barra’s leadership over the years. The CEO of General Motors since 2014, she is the highest-paid chief executive of the Detroit Three automakers. As a leader, Barra is known for her collaborative spirit, eager to give credit to her team rather than steal the limelight herself. She was given the top job at GM for her ability to bring order to chaos, by streamlining processes and improving efficiency.

Barra believes that an intelligent leader recognizes that the success of every company is about its people. She has been working on building GM as a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. In an interview, Barra admitted that “autonomous (AV) and electric vehicle (EV) technologies are critical for the competitive future.” Under her, GM has committed to investing nearly $35 billion in EV and AV product spending, far exceeding the company’s gas and diesel investment. A trailblazer, unafraid to learn, business people have kept an eye on her successes as she steers GM towards sustainability.

The top business leaders are the ones who are skilled at communicating their vision and working on continuously improving their products.