Leaders50: Listing The Top Leaders From Around The World

The business world seldom pauses, yet every so often it should. For leadership, that moment is now. I’m pleased to see Thinkers50, the revered platform for management thinking ranking for over two decades, unveil its inaugural Leaders50 list for top leaders.

This list celebrates global leaders, and it is long overdue.

With the mantra “inspiring purposeful action that achieves remarkable outcomes,” Leaders50 has ignited a much-needed dialogue about what leadership should embody.

As Stuart Crainer, co-founder of Thinkers50, eloquently puts it: “The challenges facing the world, organizations, and individuals are enormous. We do not know all of the elements which will be necessary to begin to tackle these challenges. But, we do know that none will be overcome without leadership. Leaders50 shines a light on some exceptional leaders in the hope that others may learn from them, be inspired by them and take on the mantle of leadership.”

The list features names that resonate like powerful chords in a symphony of global change—Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Mary Barra of GM, Melanie Perkins of Canva, and Shelley Zalis of The Female Quotient, to name just a few of the leaders.

Each leader from the list offers a masterclass in balancing purpose with impact. For example, Nadella’s empathy-driven transformation of Microsoft is balanced by technological breakthroughs that are in lockstep with humanity. Barra’s electrification of GM is both a pivot and a declaration.

And then there’s Melanie Perkins. The co-founder of Canva didn’t just disrupt design software; she democratized creativity. As author April Rinne notes, Perkins embodies “responsible innovation and future-forward leadership.” Her journey is a case study of leadership’s true purpose: creating access, fostering equity, and inspiring change.

How It Formed

The Leaders50 list underwent a thorough selection process before anyone was chosen. I should know because I was fortunate enough to be asked by Crainer and the Thinkers50 team to assist.

There were three foundation elements to make the Leaders50 list, including:

• Organizational Impact: How is the leader enhancing their organization’s performance and aligning it with a clear, purposeful vision?
• Economic Contribution: Is the leader’s work contributing positively to the local, national or global economy?
• Social Purpose: Is the leader advancing social and environmental sustainability, ensuring that their initiatives benefit humanity and the planet harmoniously and with a lasting manner?

From there, two more dimensions were added based on character and their ability to be future-focused. The key criteria within these two additional elements included being a role model, stakeholder satisfaction, leadership style, developing others, organizational resiliency and adaptability, and their visionary impact.

Some 600 leaders were nominated, put through the assessment criteria, and judged by the Thinkers50 broader community members to land on the top 50.

The Broader Picture of Leadership

Part of the magic of Leaders50 lies in its breadth. It is not confined to the glitz of Fortune 500 corner offices.

The top 50 list has deliberately included leaders like Etienne Salborn, who champions self-managed social innovation in Uganda, and Asheesh Advani, who is empowering youth worldwide through Junior Achievement.

Leadership today cannot thrive within the myopic confines of profit margins and market share, hallmarks of the short-termism craze still upheld by thousands of CEOs worldwide.

It must address societal imbalances and wield influence responsibly. Leaders50 reminds us that leadership is both a privilege and an obligation—a responsibility to elevate, inspire, and innovate while caring for humanity along the way.

Leadership Evolution

The Leaders50 initiative signals that we are moving beyond the outdated “heroic leader” archetype. While far too many leaders believe it to be true, leadership is not about wielding unchecked power or control.

Instead, it is the art (and heart) of amplifying others—team members, communities, organizations, and even ecosystems.

Leaders50 also addresses a deeper issue: the universality of leadership.

It reminds us that anyone, regardless of geography, sector, or stature, has the capacity to lead. This is particularly important in an age when the workplace is multi-generational, multicultural, and increasingly geographically multimodal.

And let’s not forget the impending anxiety apocalypse of artificial intelligence. Which leader will choose to use it ‘for good’ instead of simply eliminating jobs and increasing profitability?

Why Leaders50 Matters

Reflecting on the inaugural Leaders50 put forth by the Thinkers50 organization, I encourage you to embrace its underlying message: leadership is both art and science. It’s about execution and innovation but also purpose and care.

The true measure of leadership is its ripple effect—on people, society, and the future.

What excites me most is the duality of Leaders50—it celebrates but also provokes. Who will step up next? What will they solve? In times of extraordinary challenges, the Leaders50 isn’t just a list; it’s a call to care about leadership.

“None of us knows what the future holds,” remarked Crainer. “But we do know it will demand more leaders—not fewer.”

The question is, who among us will rise to the occasion? The inaugural Leaders50 list showcases those who are already getting it right.

Find out who made the 2024 Leaders50 list for top leaders by visiting the site here.