Rick Hendrick, founder and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group, built the largest privately held automotive dealership group in the United States through scale, discipline, and an intense focus on customer experience. Starting with a single dealership in North Carolina in the 1970s, Hendrick expanded into a nationwide network selling millions of vehicles annually across major brands. He is also a dominant figure in motorsports as owner of Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, with multiple championships and a roster of elite drivers. Hendrick’s influence spans both retail automotive operations and the business of American racing.

P. J. Hyett, cofounder of GitHub, helped create the platform that became the default home for modern software collaboration, reshaping how developers build, review, and ship code at global scale. As GitHub evolved from a developer tool into a foundational layer of the internet’s software stack, Hyett played a key role in its early product DNA and community-first growth, helping turn open-source momentum into a dominant enterprise platform. GitHub’s rise culminated in its landmark acquisition by Microsoft, cementing Hyett’s place among the entrepreneurs who defined the modern developer economy.

James “Jim” France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, is a central figure in American motorsports and a key steward of the France family racing empire. The younger son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., he helped expand the organization’s commercial footprint through decades of leadership roles, including as co-founder of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Taking the helm of NASCAR in 2018, France has overseen major media deals, modernization efforts, and renewed focus on long-term growth, solidifying his reputation as a steady, influential force guiding the future of professional stock car racing.

George Kurtz, cofounder and CEO of CrowdStrike, has become one of the most influential leaders in cybersecurity. After a successful career at McAfee, he launched CrowdStrike in 2011 with the vision of using cloud-native technology to stop breaches in real time. Under his leadership, the company went public in 2019 and grew into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise protecting governments, corporations, and institutions worldwide. Known for his technical expertise and entrepreneurial drive, Kurtz is a central figure in shaping the modern cybersecurity landscape.

Lakshmi Mittal is an Indian-born British business tycoon and the chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the largest steelmaking company globally. His strategic acquisitions and innovative approaches have significantly shaped the global steel industry. Beyond business, Mittal is known for his philanthropic endeavors, especially in education and healthcare.