Top 10 Entrepreneurs Driving Global Change in 2025
In a time when the world is adapting to change faster than ever, some individuals are not just keeping pace—they’re setting the direction. These are the people who take action, make hard decisions, and create real impact beyond their industries.
This list of the top 10 entrepreneurs showcases leaders who are not only building successful businesses but also using their platforms to tackle global challenges. From sustainability and education to healthcare and new technologies, their influence is visible across sectors and borders.
What sets these top 10 entrepreneurs apart is their ability to stay grounded while thinking globally. Their efforts reflect practical leadership, purpose, and long-term commitment—not just trends or buzz.
Meet the Top 10 Entrepreneurs Driving Global Change in 2025
Below are the top 10 entrepreneurs who are shaping the world through their unique ideas, strong leadership, and meaningful contributions across industries in 2025.
1. Innovating For A Sustainable Future | Roberta Robin Gilardi
An expert in Innovation and Digital Technologies, Roberta Robin Gilardi is the Founder and CEO of G-Gravity, an innovation hub and catalyst for Innovation Networks and Ecosystems. With over three decades of experience as a consultant and advisor across industries, Roberta has honed effective communication skills, strategic vision, and creative problem-solving skills. Roberta is also a key figure in the European innovation ecosystem, notably through the Vantaa Future Hub in Finland, which she co-founded, standing as a prime example of her forward-thinking approach, where businesses, startups, and research institutions collaborate to design sustainable futures.
Apart from her professional endeavors, Roberta explores electronic music, and painting, activities that cultivate her creative pursuits. As a multifaceted professional, Roberta is a member of ASSD, the Scientific Association for Digital Health, where she actively participates in its Women’s Commission. Moreover, she is a Certified Expert Business Coach in Horizon 2027 EU, and a TEDx speaker, reflecting her commitment and role toward a sustainable and technologically advanced world, and inspiring generations to come.
Her company, G-Gravity works closely with businesses, navigating through the challenges of advanced technologies, identifying market trends, and seizing the potential opportunities to develop sustainable business models or services. With a strategic vision integrating innovation with sustainability, Roberta plays a crucial role in transforming businesses.
With her vision extending beyond technological progress, she is committed to including sustainability and social impact, asserting that innovation must not only drive economic growth but also contribute to a fairer and more sustainable future. Looking ahead, Roberta envisions a future where innovation is not just about technological advancement but also about creating a positive impact on society and the environment. Through G-Gravity and initiatives like the Vantaa Future Hub, Roberta is leading the way in designing the businesses and ecosystems of tomorrow, where collaboration, imagination, and sustainability converge to shape better futures.
2. Heleen Groenenberg | Driving The Global Transition Towards More Local Energy
A visionary leader in sustainable energy, Heleen Groenenberg combines practical expertise with academic rigor to drive innovative solutions for the energy transition. With a PhD in Sustainable Energy and an Executive MBA, Heleen brings a unique perspective to complex energy challenges, balancing technical knowledge with business acumen.
Heleen’s career has been defined by her commitment to climate action, recognizing that to prevent dangerous impacts from climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net zero within decades. Her substantial track record includes designing bank strategies for 1.5°C Paris Agreement compliance, leading the revision of EU Ecodesign & Energy Labelling Directives, and developing policy frameworks for carbon capture and storage.
As a Founder and CEO, Heleen Groenenberg runs Sustain Brain, a start-up company advancing local energy systems for citizens and entrepreneurs. She has spearheaded six energy hub pilot projects across Dutch provinces, working to create collective energy systems where businesses share grid capacity and flexibility. These energy hubs serve as integrated ecosystems where businesses collectively manage energy demand, optimize storage, and share locally generated power.
Heleen emphasizes that by decentralizing energy generation, storage, and distribution, local systems help reduce carbon emissions, alleviate overstretched national grids, and enable more efficient use of renewable resources. She advocates for energy communities that can share and use locally produced renewable energy directly, contributing to a secure and affordable energy supply.
As a leader, Heleen values trust and collaboration, seeking diverse perspectives while remaining decisive when needed. She excels at navigating complex stakeholder relationships, bridging the interests of government, the private sector, and communities through relationship-building and identifying shared priorities. Looking ahead, Heleen sees tremendous potential in creating a more resilient, sustainable, and decentralized energy landscape that empowers businesses and communities while accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral future.
3. Gerard Peeters | Navigating Packaging Procurement Challenges at the University of Paris
At the crossroads of regulatory demands and practical packaging challenges stands Gerard Peeters, an experienced procurement strategist pursuing doctoral research at the University of Paris. His DBA research tackles a critical industry dilemma – “Balancing Cost and Compliance: Navigating Packaging Procurement Trade-Offs in the Face of EU Sustainability Regulations.”
With deep expertise in packaging supply chains, Gerard approaches his work pragmatically rather than theoretically. His research examines how procurement professionals manage EU directives like the PPWR and EPR while maintaining cost efficiency and supply chain flexibility.
During his 20 years of experience in packaging, Gerard had the opportunity to work with top companies including Heineken, Biscuit International, and Schoeller Allibert. Beyond policy analysis, Gerard conducts interviews with sourcing managers and analyzes supplier data to develop applicable strategic frameworks. He serves as an interpreter between complex compliance requirements and operational packaging decisions, creating valuable insights for procurement leaders navigating sustainability regulations without compromising financial objectives.
4. Bùi Hoàng Sang | Visionary Leadership In Sales And Marketing
With over 27 years in managing business for multinational corporations, Mr. Bùi Hoàng Sang has a strong knowledge and experience in sales, marketing, and finance. Renowned as one of the successful Vietnamese marketers in the Vietnam market, Mr. Sang has worked with some of the top global brands, Kimberly-Clark Vietnam, Colgate & SC Johnson, to name a few. Currently, he leads as the CEO of LOF International Dairy Product JSC.
LOF proudly announces that its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bùi Hoàng Sang, has received the prestigious ASEAN 2025 Exemplary Leader Award. This honor recognizes his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the company’s growth and innovation. Under Mr. Sang’s stewardship since early 2024, LOF has achieved double-digit revenue growth, placing it among Vietnam’s fastest-growing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. This record performance underscores his effective growth strategies and commitment to excellence.
Mr. Sang has also successfully guided LOF’s expansion into international markets such as Indonesia and Cambodia. These ventures have broadened LOF’s regional footprint and strengthened its position as a rising market leader in Southeast Asia.
Demonstrating a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, Mr. Sang has championed programs to support children orphaned by COVID-19 in Vietnam. He has also invested in building playgrounds and educational opportunities for children in the communities where LOF operates. These efforts reflect Mr. Sang’s dedication to sustainable social development alongside business success.
5. Friedhelm Best | Cross-Border Interim Manager Empowers SME Businesses in Asia Pacific Region
Friedhelm Best is the Founder and Interim Manager of BEST-inter APAC Pte. Ltd., based in Singapore. With over 22 years of experience in the international B2B market and roles in German family-owned companies for more than 28 years, Friedhelm has established himself as a leading expert in the Internationalization of SMEs. An extensive background as Managing Director, and Vice President positions in seven countries across four continents, further makes him a seasoned professional in the field.
Friedhelm’s background is in Precision Engineering and Business Administration, studied in Germany and the UK. At INSEAD Singapore, he learned about leading business transformation in Asia. He is a UNITREDINTERIM certified Interim Manager and was named Interim Manager of the Year 2025. Friedhelm is also active in the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and serves as a Co-Chairperson in Singapore for the Mittelstand and Regional Markets committee.
Friedhelm founded BEST-inter APAC Pte. Ltd. to support the subsidiaries of SMEs, in Germany they are called Mittelstand, in achieving success in the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by these companies, Friedhelm offers interim management services designed to address leadership vacancies, executing growth initiatives, turnarounds, restructuring, and transformation projects, especially in Sales and General Management. By providing deep regional knowledge and a strong network, Friedhelm ensures smooth transitions and sustainable growth for his clients. His work is driving global change by empowering European companies to expand into high-growth regions like Asia-Pacific, fostering international collaboration and business development.
BEST-inter’s interim management services are tailored to the needs of SMEs operating in Asia-Pacific. This solution supports companies such as electrical equipment manufacturers, industrial automation, and mechanical and electrical engineering firms acting in the end-user markets of automotive production, chemical, oil & gas, renewable energy, railway, and shipbuilding. The BEST-inter services increase operational excellence, cultural alignment, and digitalization solutions that streamline operations and foster efficiency and innovation. Furthermore, Friedhelm has extensive experience in digital transformation projects and is passionate about making AI solutions beneficial for companies to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Friedhelm is passionate about supporting the international expansion of Mittelstand companies. As their domestic market becomes increasingly saturated, he advises businesses to explore high-growth regions like Asia-Pacific, where demand is robust, and opportunities are abundant. His guiding principles include learning from and respecting local expertise while bringing global perspectives and nurturing local talent. By acting as a bridge-builder between company headquarters and local subsidiaries, Friedhelm, as Cross-Border Interim Manager, helps overcome cultural barriers. When not working, Friedhelm enjoys immersing himself in Southeast Asian culture, savoring local cuisines with family and friends, and indulging his love for F1 racing.
6. Timoteo Maffei | The Founder of Positive Motorcycles Ready to Redefine Urban Mobility
With over two decades of experience in mechanical, electronic, and manufacturing process engineering, Timoteo Maffei is an accomplished engineering manager and entrepreneur living in Italy. Currently, as Capital Investment Manager in a multinational company in Switzerland, he leads a multicultural team across multiple manufacturing sites, overseeing new product industrialization and capital.
Simultaneously, Timoteo is the founder of Positive Motorcycles, an Italy-based startup focused on developing and producing electric motorbikes for commuting in style by saving money and time and keeping the fun of riding.
Previously, he worked in biomedical multinational companies in Switzerland, leading teams in the quality department, process validation, and risk management for medical osteosynthesis devices, introducing in standard production several new products for Trauma and Spine application and new technologies for manufacturing, automation, and inspection. In 2010 and 2016, Timoteo actively contributed to the development and construction of two Moto2 motorbikes, in collaboration with a Swiss-based team.
Passionate about innovation, he likes to combine technical expertise with strategic leadership to drive impactful projects in industries such as biomedical, automotive, and technology sectors. “I believe that we have to leverage human resources, technology expertise, automation, AI, by combining the best of the world to provide state-of-the-art solutions for a better life,” mentions Timoteo.
His last project, POSITIVE MOTORCYCLES, was born in his home garage on Lake of Como, Italy, as a startup fueled by passion, purpose, and innovation. The brand’s name reflects a mindset of optimism and progress—values embedded in every bolt of the first model of its electric motorbike.
The motor, frame, battery, cooling system, and all the rest of the components have been developed in-house specifically for that purpose, leveraging the best suppliers and experts in the field by designing hundreds of parts and simulating and optimizing them in 3D. The project started from scratch, considering from the beginning the ideal utilization and rider experience. The first prototype, called EGERA (Electric Generation Era), combines cutting-edge Italian engineering with minimalist, analog riding dynamics. The key features of the prototype include:
- Liquid-cooled electric motor, which is rare in the electric motorcycle space
- Hydroformed aluminum swingarm & carbon fiber fairings, making it lightweight and resilient
- Components from MotoGP suppliers, an advanced supply-chain
- Big battery of +9.5kWh and 220V standard charging, making it perfect for simple daily urban travel
Tested at speeds up to 175 km/h, EGERA has already outpaced legendary gas-powered vehicles and captured attention at events like the Green Tech Festival in Berlin and Villa d’Este during the E1 Series.
Positive Motorcycles is now opening to strategic investors and partners to join its journey. With ready-to-production vehicles complete and a ten-year vision for new models and global expansion, the company is ready to scale. “We’re building more than motorcycles—we’re building a movement,” says founder Timoteo Maffei, and further adds, “Our first motorbike model proves that electric can be exciting, beautiful, and real. Now, we’re looking for partners who believe in that future.”
The Positive Motorcycles customers will ride cheaply, safely, quickly, and in style, making it perfect for urban commuters looking for something new. Timoteo is open to evaluating collaboration to produce the motorbike by license or partnership in highly receptive countries such as India, Indonesia, or the UAE.
7. Growing Scaleups to Global Powerhouses | Dr. Ajay Sharma on Energy Transition and Sustainable Digital Transformation
In a world grappling with climate urgency and digital disruption, Dr. Ajay Sharma is charting a clear, actionable path for innovation-led scaleups. He is a globally recognized business leader and investor enabling scaleups to evolve into global powerhouses through energy transition, digital transformation, and sustainable innovation. With over 30 years of experience driving high-impact growth, Dr. Sharma is helping startups evolve into global powerhouses—not just through funding or scaling, but by embedding sustainability and digital transformation at their core.
As Founder and CEO of ASR Ventures, Dr. Sharma advises and invests in next-generation startups in energy transition, AI-powered data centers, deep tech, and cybersecurity. His firm supports ventures that are not only solving tomorrow’s infrastructure problems but are doing so with environmental and societal responsibility.
He also serves as the Chief Growth Advisor at Adeptview, working closely with clients and partners to engineer exponential growth using agile frameworks, technology, and sustainable thinking. His growth philosophy focuses on achieving “multiX” scaling—helping companies multiply their impact and valuation through strategy, culture, and capital intelligence. Dr. Sharma brings heavyweight boardroom experience to the table. He is a Board Director at EIC Capital and Director of LiorTrust, where he champions alternative finance to make capital more inclusive and mission-aligned for emerging markets.
His past includes pivotal leadership roles at Lucent Technologies (now Nokia), Huawei, ZTE, Tech Mahindra, and Dimitra, where he was instrumental in scaling business operations from single-digit millions to multi-billion-dollar revenues. He is also a respected international keynote speaker, having presented at forums across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia on topics ranging from digital infrastructure and green tech to governance and financial innovation.
A committed educator, Dr. Sharma has been teaching digital transformation and finance at UIBS Amsterdam since 2020. He holds degrees in Engineering, International Finance, and Business Administration, along with an honorary Doctorate in Entrepreneurship. He also trained at Harvard Business School in M&A and financial restructuring.
Outside of business, Dr. Sharma is a force for good. Over the last two decades, he has led philanthropic projects focused on menstrual hygiene for young girls, cancer hospital support, and renewable energy solutions for healthcare infrastructure in India. His humanitarian work has earned him honors including the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International and a Lordship title from Anton Phillips.
As the world enters a new era of green capital and digital capability, Dr. Ajay Sharma believes it’s not enough for companies to scale fast—they must scale wisely, and hence, is on a mission to help founders and boards unlock sustainable, scalable, and purpose-driven growth that serves both planet and profit.
8. Therapy And Coaching For A Better Life | Renée McDonald
Internationally known therapist and coach, active in many public and private communities around the globe, Renée McDonald is a mum of three kids, a wife, and a dog owner. She is a keen and avid reader of research, memoirs, and human achievement. Renée is a passionate advocator for the client and an experienced practitioner in the therapy space—whether that be in the online or in-person space.
Having worked with her original business, Butterfly Courage from 2006 to 2018, Renée transitioned to running her own company, AOTT, in 2018 for over 7 years. Currently, she runs her own Clinic, Wellbeing4me and has designed her own app. Renée has worked as a therapist for over 23 years and as a coach for over 10 years, training professionals to transition their practice to the online environment.
Renée is also a professional member of an international association and has provided training internationally along with working with people across the world with her business, practice, coaching, training, and services alike.
Renée is an experienced academic educator, trainer, and assessor. In 2019, she even launched her textbook, “Online Therapy: Processes, Tasks, Integration and Energetic Holding,” based on her research, practice experience, and training in the Online Therapy and Telehealth space. Her Online Therapy textbook is available both on Amazon and as a standard paperback from Lambert Academic Publishing, through www.morebooks.de. Additionally, her book “Rising with Butterfly Courage,” released in 2023, went best seller to critical acclaim, where it crossed genres to support small business owners, therapists and coaches rise, supporting people to find their inner strength and find their own inner butterfly.”
Renée is a passionate advocator for her clients and an experienced therapist in the online space and can be directly contacted via her professional services website. With a passion for helping people lead a better life, be it through therapy, creativity, or educating themselves, Renée McDonald assists people in this journey with her unparalleled services and support.
9. Rita N. Singh | Global Advocate for Women in Leadership
Rita N. Singh, a visionary and trailblazing executive who has spent decades empowering others, is the Co-founder and Chief Financial & Operations Executive of S&A Consulting Group LLP, a global resource management consulting firm. Also, as the founder of Elite Women Around the World®, a nonprofit organization, Rita is dedicated to advancing women’s economic and leadership opportunities worldwide. With more than 35 years of experience across industries, Rita is adept at critical thinking, problem-solving, and more, Rita is an inspiring influencer on entrepreneurship and leadership development. As an exceptional executive coach, she guides business executives to become better leaders through complex business challenges.
Rita N. Singh, a visionary and trailblazing executive who has spent decades empowering others, is the Co-founder and Chief Financial & Operations Executive of S&A Consulting Group LLP, a global resource management consulting firm. Also, as the founder of Elite Women Around the World®, a nonprofit organization, Rita is dedicated to advancing women’s economic and leadership opportunities worldwide. With more than 35 years of experience across industries, Rita is adept at critical thinking, problem-solving, and more, Rita is an inspiring influencer on entrepreneurship and leadership development. As an exceptional executive coach, she guides business executives to become better leaders through complex business challenges.At S&A Consulting Group LLP, Rita leads initiatives that support CEOs and successfully support businesses in navigating corporate turnarounds, entering new markets, and driving international growth. “With innovative cash flow strategies and spearheading cultural change, I and my team have helped multiple organizations position themselves for financial success and seize emerging opportunities,” she reflects.
Passionate about empowering businesses and leaders to achieve sustainable growth, Rita has developed marketing and business plans across diverse industries, enabling economic development initiatives on both regional and global scales, through collaborative efforts. By leveraging her expertise in leadership development and system improvement, Rita creates a meaningful, lasting impact for businesses, organizations, and communities and fosters a commitment to growth and excellence.
She has also played a key role in higher education, including supporting the launch of the Center of Excellence in Ethical and Entrepreneurial Leadership at Ursuline College, where she served as an MBA program instructor. Alongside her coaching work, she is a respected leadership strategist, speaker, and moderator. Rita also brings experience as a mentor, philanthropist, thought leader, consultant, and licensed CPA. Moreover, she is a recipient of numerous awards and honors and is frequently invited to speak on topics related to leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and women’s advancement.
Alongside being the co-author of best-selling book, “Be A Warrior in Business – How to Develop Resilient Organizations & Teams,” Rita expertly mentors many aspiring and established leaders. Throughout her career, Rita N. Singh has been recognized locally, regionally, and internationally for her contributions to leadership and business innovation, standing as a shining example in her field.
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10. Katharine Budd | Making Digital Banking Work for Everyone
Katharine Budd is quietly transforming the way financial services reach those who need them most. As co-founder of NOW Money—the Gulf’s first mobile banking platform focused on low-income workers—she has built a solution that addresses real barriers to financial access. Her work is grounded in one core idea: people who contribute to the economy deserve access to safe, simple financial tools.
Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in tech startups, Budd has led NOW Money through the challenges of working in a tightly regulated sector. She helped secure rare permissions for digital payments and raised $12 million in funding from investors across the GCC, the US, and Europe. The platform now stands as a practical alternative to traditional banking in a region where many workers are overlooked by major institutions.
Before NOW Money, Budd worked with data-driven companies like Nectar and Cardlytics, where she used analytics to improve customer engagement strategies for major banks. She has a knack for breaking down complex data and turning it into tools that companies—and their customers—can actually use.
Outside of the office, Budd is a strong voice for making technology more accessible and inclusive. She’s also passionate about encouraging women in leadership and sport. A former triathlete who qualified for the World Championships, she’s just as comfortable pushing limits on the racecourse as she is in business. Budd studied Psychology and Experimental Statistics at Exeter University and continues to stay connected through its alumni network.
Through it all, her focus remains clear: practical innovation that improves lives.
Conclusion
The top 10 entrepreneurs highlighted here are not just leading companies—they are shaping conversations, solving real-world problems, and building businesses that matter. In 2025, their efforts reflect a grounded sense of purpose, where growth is tied to lasting impact. Each one brings a unique story of determination, thoughtful leadership, and meaningful action. As we look ahead, these top 10 entrepreneurs remind us that change doesn’t happen overnight, but through steady, committed work that influences industries, communities, and lives across the globe.
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