A new wave of visionary entrepreneurs is here to reshape the business landscape with more than financial success—they’re changing the world, creating meaningful change, and inspiring future generations. These are trailblazers who are breaking down walls, innovating, and leading with the purpose of leaving behind a legacy. In a world where opportunities and challenges are evolving, let’s bring to attention the Top 10 Entrepreneurs who are not just excelling in their domain but also making an impact like never before. The stories of these figures are about determination, resilience, and a desire for a future for all to be better.
Massimiliano Spini
Massimiliano Spini is an expert Mental Coach and Performance Consultant, who has not only transitioned from being an ultra-runner but is a testimony to perseverance. As a former ultra-runner, Massimiliano knows how to break through barriers and he incorporates this principle in coaching as well. His company, Wing Rise Success System LTD, focuses on the improvement of mental skills in athletes and business people in order to achieve personal excellence.
Massimiliano has worked with some of the best of the best when it comes to elite athletes, he’s worked with people who have made it to the Olympics, achieved national championships, and had tremendous success in their fields. He was exceptional in his ability to adapt quickly to changes going on in the industry and his total dedication to his clients. Through his personalized coaching sessions, he teaches individuals how to build a powerful mindset, stay focused, and achieve actual goals, no matter if it’s in sports, or having a successful business and career.
Massimiliano wants to do more than win individually. He envisions bringing Mental Coaching to the world, providing the most up-to-date, broad-scale solutions through comprehensive programs and a community that motivates one another. His social responsibility initiatives aimed at mental health and resilience bring his impact to people farther afield from his immediate clients and build a culture of those who all value strength of mind and wellbeing.
Massimiliano Spini’s absolute dedication, plus his own past experiences at being an athlete, make him an amazing, inspiring example to anyone who wants to reach excellence in any field.
Shermel Alicia Jeffers Chandwani
Rising to the top of the luxury Caribbean real estate market is Shermel A. Jeffers Chandwani, Owner & Managing Director of SAJ Interior Designs & Real Estate Services. Shermel has over 13 years of banking experience as well as 9 years of real estate experience and has grown a substantial portfolio that is valued at over US$300 million, making her a top senior broker agent in St. Kitts & Nevis. It wasn’t until 2015 that she began her journey into real estate, as she had been inspired by a close friend who realized that she had a natural gift for forming wonderful relationships and pointing them in the right direction as they navigated the property buying process.
SAJ Interior Design & Real Estate Services is not only a force to reckon with in real estate sales and rentals; they are a complete interior design and property management services agency! Her approach is unique as she combines financial guidance to guide clients through mortgage financing with local banks, and helps clients find appointments specific to their needs. Her expertise and dedication have raised a new standard of provision of client services in the region.
Among her accomplishments are being named “Best Luxury Boutique Real Estate Consultancy in St. Kitts and Nevis” in 2024 at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards as well as inclusion in the ‘Top 100 Real Estate Brokers of the World’. Shermel is still going strong and continuing to take her influence to the next level and becoming a force to be reckoned with in real estate across the Caribbean.
Marques Ogden
Dynamic keynote speaker, business coach, business consultant, and podcast host Marques Ogden, founder of Ogden Ventures LLC has an inspiring tale of resilience and determination. Having risen from the challenges of bankruptcy and rock bottom to a life of renewed success, Ogden’s mission is clear: to help others from making the expensive mistakes he made. Aside from this, what makes Ogden Ventures unique is that it aims to provide clients with some practical actionable steps that they can do to get to their goals, rather than just motivate them. Based on trust and collaboration, Ogden’s approach to success hinges on clients’ true success being measured by their own achievements.
Ogden Ventures works with business leaders, Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals aspiring to grow; providing keynote speaking, business coaching, consulting, and a growing online mindset community for those who desire affordable access to high-quality guidance. It’s a comprehensive approach to discipline and gives you the tools you need to navigate uncertain times.
Marques Ogden’s body of accolades is impressive: He is a 2024 Top Inspirational Athlete and Keynote Speaker Award recipient from IAOTP, and in 2023 was ranked among the Top 10 Business Speakers in North America. His podcast is also in the top 0.5% globally as more evidence of his influence. Ogden isn’t just building a business, he’s building a legacy. A legacy that continues to empower people to thrive for years after he stops working.
For more about Marques Ogden and his work, visit marquesogden.com.
Fai (Delicia) Chan
Fai (Delicia) Chan, the ingenious founder of Deli Aroma LLC known for her groundbreaking work, in incorporating aromatherapy into treatments as an approach in healthcare settings. She advocates for tailor-made treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and explores methods to minimize medication side effects by proposing new approaches to drug development. Her unique methods have gained recognition and acceptance, within the community where different paradigms have successfully converged.
In addition, Deli Aroma LLC, which was set up by Fai (Delicia) Chan deals with the area of commercial clinical aromatherapy, and a wide audience is presented with the products and services of the company. Chan is both a member of the scientific community and an individual-oriented toward the search for alternative health care. Her publications are geared to inform scientific researchers of the clinical application of aromatherapy’s clinical potential and encourage the public to incorporate aromatherapy and other holistic approaches in addition to traditional medicine. Deli Aroma represents a perfect reflection of Chan’s long-term vision to extend the advancement of natural health with the corresponding financial and personal liberty and to set up a lasting legacy for her future that will be invulnerable and based on such principles as sustainability and whole well-being.
Most notably, Chan has won the Luxlife Health and Wellness Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, her work including the article on infrared energy published in 2023 was awarded as the best article of the year in the Journal of Biochemistry and Analytical Biochemistry. Future plans of Chan are to join fundamental scientific exploration on a grand scale, desiring to look for the principles as Newton did. Chan’s inspiration as a thought leader in clinical aromatherapy and a natural healing allay truly inspires professionals and patients alike to seek healthier and more sustainable ways to live.
Tyler Lopez and Tana Lopez
A power couple, Tyler Lopez and Tana Lopez are the founders of LOPEZ & LOPEZ, REALTORS® and they know exactly what it takes to be successful in the real estate industry; they have the expertise and the compassion. Starting this firm in March of 2015, they currently rank as the Top 1% real estate agents in the United States, ranking at the top in sales volume for Long Realty Company in Tucson, Arizona. Their path towards success reflects the good roots of hard work and insistence on building a robust team for adapting to the unstable environment in the real estate market.
Tyler and Tana have many deserving accolades for their dedication to excellence. As a team, they have been recognized as Arizona’s Top Contributing Sales Agents (2019-2023), members of Long Realty Company’s 1926 Circle of Excellence – Platinum Level, and in 2020 they were welcomed in Long Realty’s Vice President Members of the Executive Council. Since 2020, LOPEZ & LOPEZ, REALTORS® has received the Best Property Buying & Selling Agency by Build.com, Zillow, UpNest, and HomeLight. Apple News also named Tyler one of the Top 10 Real Estate Agents in Arizona.
Tyler and Tana have more than 30 years of combined experience helping clients find financial freedom and stability using real estate investments. They have intimate knowledge of Tucson and surrounding markets, which means families know they’re in the best hands possible when selling or buying property. Driven by a culture of giving, grace, and gratitude, LOPEZ & LOPEZ REALTORS® is well known for its mantra of “providing you with everything you didn’t know you needed”.
Beyond real estate, Tyler and Tana’s incredible leadership instills diversity through the power of “My Local Sales team,” a commanding group made up of powerful military, banking, hospitality, and customer service backgrounds. They earned the prestigious 2023 Service Firm of the Year award from The Minority & Small Business Alliance of Tucson because of their dedication to community and leadership, and their support of local small businesses. Community and philanthropy are a cornerstone of who they are as people, they are recognized as Triple Halo Donors to Angel Charity for Children, giving over $20,000 to the organization to improve the lives of children in Pima County. Their giving nature was recognized by the Tucson Association of REALTORS® in 2023, honoring Tana with the Roy P. Drachman Corporate Community Service Award for volunteering her time to many local charities and serving on the Board of Directors of Angel Charity for Children. Impressive numbers are not the only factor that is driving the success of LOPEZ & LOPEZ, REALTORS® — it’s being able to build relationships, empowering people, and setting forth a vision of a prosperous future. Tyler and Tana will continue to leave their mark on Tucson’s real estate history through their example.
Dannet Botkin
Dannet Botkin is an experienced business and marketing consultant and visionary leader with over 35 years of work experience. As the CEO and owner of Designs Group Consulting, she has created a women-owned company that has helped many companies flourish in today’s changing marketplace. Her relentless drive and expertise have led her first to work with other global brands like Coca-Cola, Neiman Marcus, Nintendo, and Victoria’s Secret, and then to launch DGC.
Established in 2015, Designs Group Consulting (DGC) delivers business coaching and consulting along with branding and digital marketing services. Dannet’s model gives industry-leading dictate for small and mid-sized businesses to create a symbiosis of creativity and strategy in creating a personalized solution that ensures sustainable growth. She has specialized platforms such as DGC Startup Marketing for start-ups and DGC Real Estate Marketing for real estate which supports different ventures. Her philosophy is simple: She succeeds when her clients succeed.
Dannet has also achieved many accolades, including “10 Most Innovative CEO of the Year” by CIO Review in 2024 and 1st Place for BEST Artist in the Hot Springs Village Voice for two years in a row. Additionally, she has also made a big social impact, donating $50,000 of in-kind donations and guiding seniors to digital skills.
Dannet’s story encapsulates dedication and impact and inspires businesses to always do better, always reach their full potential business, and cultivate a culture of innovation. It’s a testament to how far you can go with vision and a little bit of passion.
Darryl Davis
Darryl Davis is bringing a new definition to thriving in real estate. He’s an award-winning real estate speaker, coach, and influencer, having spent over 35 years teaching over 600,000 sales professionals globally to new heights of success. However, Darryl’s footprint does not stop at numbers —he helps agents communicate, connect, and champion their clients with more confidence.
He is the CEO of the results-producing Power Agent® Program, a proprietary training system that provides agents with new skills and mindsets. His students don’t close, they coach. They don’t sell, they serve. This program teaches agents how to establish trust, build client relationships that last, and succeed with more ease. His book, How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate, is one of the best-selling books to agents on Amazon, and for good reason. Darryl conducts free weekly training webinars for real estate agents across North America that provide them with unparalleled access to skill-building and strategies. Known as the “Godfather of Metaphors and Analogies”, Darryl has the special knack of enabling agents to get rid of their “canned scripts” and get real and effective with their conversations.
Darryl’s been a key figure for agents to weather the NAR Lawsuit and its aftermath. In times of heightened uncertainty, his coaching students rely on weekly coaching and a comprehensive training hub to help them stay ahead of the curve and steer clear of legal landmines.
Darryl has also revolutionalized real estate coaching with his award-winning, first-of-its-kind 24/7 AI Coach, Digital Darryl™.
He is part of a select group of only 2% of speakers worldwide to achieve CSP designation from the National Speaker’s Association and Darryl’s reach and influence are extensive. His work isn’t a job, it’s a call to agents to help them build careers and lives they can smile about.
Michael Lissack
Michael Lissack, a proponent of “responsible AI” and a foe of “sloppy science” brings over three decades of experience in Large Language Models (LLMs) to bear on today’s most pressing questions about Artificial Intelligence. As the Founder and Director of the Second Order Science Foundation, Lissack has become a critical voice of reason in a time of hyperbole about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI in particular).
Unlike most siloed thought leaders, Lissack is distinguished as a professor and serial entrepreneur who bridges multiple worlds – combining the rigor of academia with attention to practical challenges. In a time of fast technological growth, his work is about keeping scientific integrity, while also resisting uncritical AI adoption, and supporting responsible integration of new technologies.
Lissack has been advocating deeper understanding and more nuanced technological advancement as President of the American Society for Cybernetics and Founding Editor of the journal Emergence. With his expertise including both the finance and healthcare sectors, he has clearly shown how his organizational learning and knowledge management principles can be applied to the real world.
Lissack’s influence is felt well beyond traditional academic boundaries. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant around the globe as he helps organizations and professionals ‘think better’ about technology adoption. Combining critical analysis with pragmatic insights, his approach fills the gap between AI’s promise and its ethical, efficient capacity of use.
As one of the most persistent purveyors of scientific rigor and thoughtful innovation in today’s AI landscape where hype so often cedes to substance, Lissack is an unwavering advocate. He continues to create the path for the advancement of responsible technological change so that it augments instead of replaces human wisdom.
Connect with Michael Lissack for conversations about the future of AI, organizational learning, and responsible progress in the technological sphere.
Erica Gifford Mills
Erica Gifford Mills is a force to be reckoned with for personal development and motivation. Blending leadership, authenticity, and inspiration, she is the Founder of Balanced Symmetree and host of Get Rooted Radio. Over 20 years of leadership experience has left her to help women express themselves authentically, set healthy boundaries, and embrace vulnerability. Erica’s abstractions are about living a fearless life experience and letting go of what is not serving you.
In 2024 her debut solo book, The Rooted Life: Live, Love, Let Go won the International Impact Award and the Literacy Award, testifying to her massive impact on readers. As one of the most sought-after speakers in cities around the globe, Erica has had the pleasure of sharing her expertise and stories on stages in cities from Paris to Toronto to Valencia.
Along with her written and spoken contributions, Erica is a tireless advocate for military communities. She works with organizations such as the USO and others committed to advancing mental health support for active duty service members and veterans. She seeks to close the gaps in care, ensure resilience, and increase awareness all around the frequent hardships of individuals serving in our military. Long term Erica wants to deliver TEDx and TED Talks to continue to impact people and give them a voice.
To connect with Erica and learn more about her work, please visit https://balancedsymmetree.com/. You can also visit her on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
Katrina Johnson
Katrina Johnson, affectionately known as “The Ultrasound CEO Business Coach,” is a sonographer and inspirational leader within the ultrasound industry. A successful Houston, TX native Katrina is the founder of Affordable Ultrasound Companies which she sold in October 2024, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Houston. She now mentors sonographers and aspiring entrepreneurs through personalized coaching and specialized workshops under her brand, The Ultrasound C.E.O. Consulting Firm.
Katrina has over 18 years of experience as a board-registered diagnostic Sonographer and has owned a business for 15 years, she is devoted to assisting ultrasound technologists to flourish in the field. Using her tailored workshops, ebooks, and coaching programs, she provides blueprints for launching and scaling successful businesses with her clients creating both financial success and personal growth. Katrina helps her mentees adopt practical strategies and receives one one-on-one mentoring to tap into their entrepreneurial capacities.
In addition to being a mentor to thousands of sonographers, Katrina has achieved recognition for her expertise and innovative vision as well. In NYC Journal’s ‘From Soundwaves to Success’ she was foregrounded for her willingness to uplift her fellow professionals. Her desire to help others succeed along with her forward-thinking business strategy still continues to move the ultrasound industry.
Katrina continues to strive to grow her influence, help sonographers create their own ultrasound business, and encourage the next generation of diagnostic medical sonography professionals. Because of her work, she epitomizes the leadership and role model success for the diagnostic medical sonography profession.