Of all the environments for testing one's ability to be a leader, one of the toughest is the deck of a racing yacht, a place where Simon Walker has spent much of his adult life. Bill Breen
Donald Winkler is profoundly dyslexic. He is also a startlingly effective leader at one of the world's biggest companies. The two are related. He sees the world in ways we can't or won't. Keith Hammonds
Brainpower is more important than ever, but education seems more backward than ever. John Taylor Gatto, an award-winning teacher, now aims to overthrow the public-school establishment for which he worked for 30 years. Daniel H. Pink
It's up to Motorola's Janiece Webb, one of the company's highest-impact change agents, to make Motorola a leader in the wireless Internet -- the next great global market.To pull it off, she -- and Motorola -- must make networking personal. Paul C. Judge
The most compelling opportunities for social entrepreneurs are the public schools. Gene Wade has been dreaming about fixing the public schools since he was a kid. Now he's doing it. Rekha Balu
Difficult circumstances are a test of business wits and corporate character. In Poland, company builders Helena Luczywo and Wanda Rapaczynski are creating a media empire built on savvy strategy and unwavering principles. Pamela Kruger
Can one of Wall Street's venerable names become a driving force in the Internet economy? That's the challenge facing e-vangelists Peter Maillet and Peter Miller as they help J.P. Morgan transform itself for the digital age. Scott Kirsner
The Internet is reshaping business and communications around the globe. Now it's up to e-vangelists like Yahoo!'s Heather Killen to build truly global internet companies. Her mantra: no more 'international!' Alex Markels
Social entrepreneur Dan Morrell is targeting a massive and complex environmental problem: global warming. But his solution is deceptively simple: The way to save the planet is one tree at a time. Ian Wylie
Mary McCormick is finding ingenious ways to apply Internet connections to urban problems -- from combating domestic violence to filling potholes. But the most important job of a social entrepreneur, she believes, is connecting people. Scott Kirsner
It sounds corny, but it's true: Bishop William Swing is a man on a mission. His goal? To change the relationships among the world's religions, from hostility to harmony. Chuck Salter
In a city that has suffered as a victim of the old style of sports ownership, the Redbirds and their ballpark have had a transforming effect. "It's become the most important facility in the city," says Steve Cohen, a state senator. Geoff Calkins
Professor Henry Mintzberg is one of the world's most influential teachers of business strategy. Now he's developing a new lesson plan: to change the very essence of business education itself. Jennifer Reingold
After 16 years of research-and-development effort, Nike has finally figured out how to put a little spring not in your step but in your shoes. Innovation, it turns out, is a marathon, not a sprint. Ron Lieber
Corning Inc.'s Sullivan Park research facility is one of the most creative places in the world -- a place where brilliant (and unruly) scientists literally invent the future. Charles Fishman
Every fall since 1993, Samuel Mockbee and his students have left Auburn and headed west to Hale County, one of the country's poorest regions. Their assignment: to build great houses with low-cost materials. Curtis Sittenfeld
North Castle Partners is so obsessed with understanding teens that it has created an on-site clubhouse at its headquarters just for them. "We speak freely," says one teen. "That's what it's all about." Curtis Sittenfeld
"It is now time to return to the idea that some people are simply born with potentialities for leadership," says Nigel Nicholson in his new book. Keith H. Hammonds
How do you persuade big oil to give a new synthetic-fuel technology a second look? When you're a small company dealing with 800-pound gorillas, you have to look at the world a little differently. Stephen Hochbrunn
And that's why it's so hard to work with people who go to the office. Christena Nippert-Eng is an expert on home office problems -- and solutions. Jennifer Reingold
Quality Bicycle in Minnesota is a great place to work if you love to bike. In fact, the company's culture -- and its business reputation -- depends on that. It's all part of Quality's inner logic, its code, its brand. Amy Gage
Atiq Raza was in position to become CEO of one of Silicon Valley's old-guard giants. But he left to create Raza Foundries, a company that helps build other companies. Just don't call it an incubator. Bill Breen
In an economy that's built on ideas, winning companies are built on talent -- which makes human resources one of the most critical functions in any company. At least, that's what you'd think, right? Amy Wilson
Sure, Net companies can attract millions of users by offering free stuff. But who wants -- or can afford -- customers who won't pay? Welcome to the end of the Internet free-for-all. George Anders
When it comes to evaluating Internet deals, Larraine Segil knows what's real. She's advised some of the biggest companies on how to partner with startups, and she's literally written the book on what she calls "Fast Alliances." Cheryl Dahle
Will young people care about politics? Is America ready for online voting? Can the net save democracy? Those are the questions that beltway veteran Doug Bailey is asking. Jill Rosenfeld
