These young entrepreneurs and impressive professionals are well-known and highly-respected in their fields. Learn about their accomplishments and think about what’s on the horizon for you. Get inspired to follow your dreams and boost your career with an international internship experience.
1. Andres Barreto
Claim to fame: The Latin American Mark Zuckerberg
Sector: Entrepreneurship
Home country: Colombia
Age: 38
Key accomplishments: A visionary entrepreneur, Andres Barreto has founded multiple successful startups, including Grooveshark, PusloSocial, and Onswipe. Passionate about expanding the tech ecosystem in Latin America, he actively works to create opportunities for emerging startups and digital entrepreneurs in the region. His impact highlights the power of innovation, technology, and business growth in emerging markets.
2. Malala Yousafzai
Claim to fame: The youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate
Sector(s): Law, Education, NGOs
Home country: Pakistan
Age: 27
Key accomplishments: Malala, a globally recognized advocate for women's education, has led a powerful movement to ensure equal learning opportunities for girls in Pakistan and beyond. Overcoming adversity after being targeted by the Taliban for her activism, Malala continues to fight for education rights, inspiring millions worldwide.
3. Lin-Manuel Miranda
Claim to fame: Creator and star of Broadway hits Hamilton and In The Heights
Sector(s): Theater, Music
Home country: United States
Age: 45
Key accomplishments: Lin-Manuel Miranda has brought minority voices to Broadway through his award-winning musicals Hamilton and In The Heights. The son of Puerto Rican immigrants, Miranda has made an important effort to include immigrant narratives in his work. Miranda is also a winner of the MacArthur “Genius” Award. Among the many fans of his musical Hamilton is President Barack Obama, who has seen the show twice.
4. Bheki Kunene
Sector(s): IT, Design, Entrepreneurship
Claim to fame: South African Entrepreneur and Mogul
Home country: South Africa
Age: 34
Key accomplishments: Despite facing significant challenges in his youth, including being expelled from public schools, Bheki Kunene turned his passion for IT into a thriving business. Without formal business training, he founded Mind Trix Media, a creative design agency that has gained international recognition. His journey from adversity to entrepreneurship showcases the power of resilience, self-education, and innovation in the digital age.
5. Clara Ianni
Sector(s): Art
Claim to fame: Rising Sao Paulo artist
Home country: Brazil
Age: 38
Key accomplishments: Clara Ianni’s art delves into Brazil’s history of violence and political struggles through modernist sculptures and installations. Her thought-provoking works have been showcased in prestigious galleries worldwide, positioning her as a leading voice in socially conscious contemporary art.
6. Kylie Jenner
Sector(s): Beauty, Entrepreneurship
Claim to fame: Youngest self-made billionaire (Forbes, 2019)
Home country: United States
Age: 27
Key accomplishments: Kylie leveraged her massive social media following to build Kylie Cosmetics into a billion-dollar beauty empire, redefining the power of personal branding in the digital age. Her success showcases the potential of influencer marketing and direct-to-consumer business models.
7. Whitney Wolfe Herd
Sector(s): Tech, Social Media, Entrepreneurship
Claim to fame: Founder and CEO of Bumble
Home country: United States
Age: 35
Key accomplishments: Wolfe Herd disrupted the dating app industry with Bumble, empowering women to make the first move. She became the youngest female CEO to take a company public, proving the power of female-led tech startups.
8. Steven Bartlett
Sector(s): Marketing, Media, Entrepreneurship
Claim to fame: Founder of Social Chain, host of The Diary of a CEO
Home country: United Kingdom
Age: 32
Key accomplishments: Dropped out of university and built Social Chain, a marketing powerhouse specializing in social media and influencer marketing. His podcast, The Diary of a CEO, is one of the top business podcasts worldwide.
9. Ben Francis
Sector(s): Fitness, E-commerce
Claim to fame: Founder of Gymshark
Home country: United Kingdom
Age: 32
Key accomplishments: Started Gymshark in his garage at 19, and now it’s a global fitness apparel brand valued at over $1 billion. His journey highlights the importance of branding, community-building, and digital marketing in the fitness industry.
10. Emma Chamberlain
Sector(s): Content Creation, Business
Claim to fame: Content creator turned coffee entrepreneur
Home country: United States
Age: 23
Key accomplishments: Emma went from vlogging in her bedroom to launching Chamberlain Coffee, an e-commerce coffee brand. She exemplifies the power of digital content, influencer marketing, and authentic brand storytelling.
