Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neuroscience and the human spirit.
Max Tegmark : Cosmic Explorer
A native of Stockholm, Tegmark left Sweden in 1990 after receiving his B.Sc. in Physics from the Royal Institute of Technology (he’d earned a B.A. in Economics the previous year at the Stockholm School of Economics). His first academic venture beyond Scandinavia brought him to California, where he studied physics at the University of California, Berkeley, earning his M.A. in 1992, and Ph.D. in 1994.
Zeynep Ton : The Good Jobs Strategy
Zeynep Ton is an adjunct associate professor in the operations management group at MIT Sloan School of Management and the author of The Good Jobs Strategy: How the Smartest Companies Invest in Employees to Lower Costs & Boost Profits. Before MIT Sloan, she spent seven years on the faculty at Harvard Business School.
Chris Sharma : American Rock Climber
Chris Sharma’s preternatural climbing ability and visionary first ascents have earned him an enduring reputation as one of the world’s best rock climbers. This American professional athlete, ambassador and entrepreneur from Santa Cruz, California, has been on a global odyssey, now two decades in the making, in search of the planet’s most difficult and beautiful rock climbs.
Andreas Ekstrom : Digital Revolution & A. I.
Andreas Ekström is a futurist and commentator on digital revolution. His passion is to educate for digital equality and he aims to understand the companies and behaviours that have become culturally, technologically and commercially drivers of change at all levels of society. Andreas wants to see a world in which we share the wealth – not only financially, but also in terms of knowledge and influence.
Andy Cunningham : Marketing and Branding
An entrepreneur at the forefront of marketing, branding, positioning, and communicating “The Next Big Thing,” Andy Cunningham has played a key role in the launch of a number of new categories including video games; personal computers; desktop publishing; digital imaging; RISC microprocessors; software as a service; very light jets; and clean tech investing.
Atul Gawande : Surgeon and Author
Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, is a surgeon, writer, and public health leader. He is CEO of the non-profit-seeking health care venture formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase to deliver better outcomes, satisfaction, and cost efficiency in care. He practices general and endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Rex Pemberton : World Explorer
As a young achiever Rex Pemberton has learnt the power of compelling goals and strong belief. On May 31, 2005 Rex made history by becoming the youngest Australian to climb to the summit of Mt Everest, after raising in excess of $100, 000 to support his dream. Having delivered significant Return on Investment to his sponsors, Rex raised a second 100k of funding to support his successful quest becoming the 3rd youngest person in the world to climb the highest mountain on all seven continents.
Hugh Herr : MIT Biomechatronics
Dr. Hugh Herr, a double amputee after a rock climbing accident, now heads the Biomechatronics research group at the MIT Media Lab. He is creating bionic prostheses that emulate natural limbs—and are having a dramatic impact on eliminating disabilities and empowering people. The “Leader of the Bionic Age” according to TIME magazine, his work in the emerging field of biomechatronics—technology that marries human physiology with electromechanics—is revolutionizing the way we approach human limitations.
Alex Sheen : Because I Said I Would
Alex Sheen, CEO of Because I Said I Would, makes charitable promises: 245 miles walks for victims of sexual violence; volunteering each week at charities in 2014; delivering relief aid to Hurricane Sandy victims.