Business Week recently called me to make my pitch for people who should be on the Top 30 Entrepreneurs of all time. Here is a link to their final list and here is a link to the complete slide show.
I urged them to look beyond just the amount of wealth that an entrepreneur created, and to examine how they create and what they do with that wealth:
Some founders won recognition not just for their companies’ success, but for what they did with the wealth they accumulated. For Jeff Cornwall, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, entrepreneurs-turned-philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates made the top of his list.
“Look at entrepreneurs who had a profound impact that goes beyond just raw business success, as we often define it on Wall Street,” says Cornwall, whose book on the subject, The Good Entrepreneur (Regal), will be published next year. “The great ones to me are the ones that understood they were building more than just that wealth.”
Many of the pioneers we chose also created businesses that in turn encouraged others to start their own enterprises. Microloans from Muhammad Yunus’ Grameen Bank have helped thousands of poor Bangladeshi women lift themselves from destitution (see BusinessWeek.com, 10/13/06, “What the Nobel Means for Microcredit”). And how many businesses has Pierre Omidyar’s eBay (EBAY) made possible? “He wants to encourage free enterprise around the world,” Cornwall said.
Who would your picks be for this list? Why would you choose to include them?
Wow. Martha Stewart made the cut despite her felony conviction!?! I agree with their choice of Oprah. She has grown a huge multimedia empire and is more then just a talk show host. With her influence she has encouraged more people to read with her book club and opened a school for girls in Africa. She has also taken the time to mentor those who aspire to follow in her footsteps: Rachel Ray, Gayle King, ect.
I would pick someone very few people are familiar with (unless you happened to study abroad with Gonzaga University): Father Bruno Segatta. He is what I consider a true social entrepreneur. He is passionate about his artwork and has found away to generate revenue through the sale of his artwork benefiting both college students he has come across while serving as the assoicate dean of students at Gonzaga University and children in Africa.
“All of Father Bruno’s works are for the betterment of those around him, near and far. The paintings he creates are sold to Alumni and parents. The revenue generated is used for student life in Florence and also donated to the Niambani House for Kids orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya; a place of comfort for children stricken with AIDS.” (Taken from http://www.brunoartforkids.com/index.html)
I could write so much more about Father Bruno and his actions. While he doesn’t have a formal business plan, he has a life plan allowing him to help others he cares about. I consider myself lucky to have had close contact with this man.
The comment by Dr. Cornwall “The great ones to me are the ones that understood they were building more than just that wealth.” is so indicative of the true entrepreneur. I thought this was a solid list, full of the not-so-known entrepreneurs. I appreciate the homage shown to many of these great founders of business.
As an African-American, I was very excited to see Madame C.J. Walker recognized on this list. Madame Walker is the mother of hair care – I believe all hair care products. She was the entrepreneur that really put hair care products on the map. She exploited the fact of black americans being looked over in regards to hair products and initiated the true “niche marketing” entry strategy into the hair care market. I believe that’s where good ideas are generated. An entrepreneur can’t start with just an idea, they must consider the unfulfilled and unmet needs/desires of the consumer and then build ideas around those things. Madame Walker is only one of many entrepreneurs who did just that and her strategic business approach is the reason why she is recognized on this list!
Tahirah King (Massey Student)
I love the story about Muhammad Yunus and I was glad to see he was in the list of the top 30. I first learned about him last semester from Dr. Cochran’s Economics class. His story about creating a bank for the poor is very inspirational and thought provoking. Dr. Cochran asked, “do you think we could live in a poverty-free world?” After learning about Grameen Bank, I certainly believe it is possible. Muhammad Yunus combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his passion to help others, and in doing so, has made a difference in the world. I strongly encourage everyone to read his story!
Pat Noiboonturm (ETP6500)
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