New Architects of American Influence
Meet 25 leaders shaping how the United States connects with the world.
Lisa Atherton
When Lisa Atherton builds aerospace technologies, she helps strengthen the systems that keep America safe.
Lisa Atherton
Lisa Atherton is the President and CEO of Textron Systems, a leading provider of advanced defense technologies and systems to the U.S. military and allied governments. She oversees a portfolio spanning unmanned systems, intelligence and surveillance technologies, advanced training solutions, and other defense capabilities. Atherton has spent more than two decades in the aerospace and defense industry, including senior leadership roles within Textron. She is also recognized as a prominent woman in the defense sector, helping shape the development of technologies that support U.S. national security and military readiness. Her leadership places her at the intersection of American technological innovation, defense policy, and the growing global competition for advanced capabilities.
Brendan Bechtel
When Brendan Bechtel builds critical infrastructure around the world, American expertise becomes part of the foundation of global growth.
Brendan Bechtel
Brendan Bechtel is Chairman and CEO of Bechtel Group, one of the world’s largest engineering, construction and project-management companies. He is the fifth generation of his family to lead the company, which has been involved in some of the world’s most consequential infrastructure projects for more than a century. Since becoming CEO in 2014, Bechtel has overseen projects spanning energy, transportation, defense, mining, advanced manufacturing and space, including major LNG facilities, U.S. semiconductor plants, critical-minerals projects and infrastructure supporting NASA’s Artemis program. Under his leadership, Bechtel has increasingly focused on rebuilding America’s capacity to execute complex projects at scale. Bechtel is also a prominent advocate for the U.S. construction and skilled-trades workforce, arguing that America’s ability to compete in areas such as AI, energy and advanced manufacturing ultimately depends on its ability to build the physical infrastructure those industries require.
Christopher Bohn
When Christopher Bohn strengthens America's industrial and fertilizer supply chains, he helps reinforce the foundations of global food security.
Christopher Bohn
Christopher Bohn is the President and CEO of CF Industries, one of the world’s largest producers of nitrogen fertilizer and a major player in global food security and clean energy. He became CEO in January 2026 after more than 15 years with the company, during which he held senior leadership roles spanning finance, manufacturing, distribution, supply chains, and corporate strategy. Under his leadership, CF Industries is pursuing opportunities in low-carbon ammonia and other clean-energy applications while maintaining its position as a critical supplier of fertilizer essential to global agriculture. Bohn previously served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw global manufacturing, sales, distribution, supply chain, and clean-energy initiatives. Earlier in his career, he held financial and strategic leadership positions at Hess Print Solutions, Merisant Worldwide, Searle Pharmaceuticals, and 3M. His leadership places him at the intersection of agriculture, critical supply chains, energy security, and the transition toward lower-carbon industrial production.
Ángel Cabrera
When Ángel Cabrera connects American universities to the world, higher education becomes a bridge for talent, innovation and influence.
Ángel Cabrera
Ángel Cabrera has served as the 12th president of the Georgia Institute of Technology since 2019, leading one of America’s foremost research universities through a period of remarkable expansion. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech has grown to serve more than 56,000 students — an increase of 55 percent — while becoming one of the most selective public universities in the country and a top destination for students seeking an exceptional return on their investment in higher education. During Cabrera’s tenure, annual sponsored research awards have surpassed $1.4 billion. The Institute now ranks No. 1 nationally in total research expenditures among universities without a medical school, and No. 2 in federal research grants — up from No. 8 in 2019. Cabrera has also overseen the establishment of new research centers and institutes in artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and space research, reflecting Georgia Tech’s ambitions to lead at the frontiers of science and technology.
Lyor Cohen
When Lyor Cohen helps American music reach audiences around the world, culture becomes a language of American influence.
Lyor Cohen
Lyor Cohen is an American music industry executive and the Global Head of Music at YouTube and Google, where he oversees the platform’s relationships with artists, songwriters, labels, and the broader global music industry. He began his career in hip-hop in the 1980s, managing artists including Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys before becoming President of Def Jam Recordings, where he helped develop the careers of artists including Jay-Z, DMX, and Kanye West. He later served as Chairman and CEO of Recorded Music at Warner Music Group and co-founded 300 Entertainment, working with artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Migos, and Young Thug. At YouTube, Cohen has played a central role in bridging the traditional music industry with digital platforms, streaming, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence. He is also a board member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the National Independent Venue Association. With more than four decades in the music business, Cohen has helped shape the global rise of hip-hop and continues to influence how music, technology, and culture intersect in the digital era.
Megan O’Connor
When Megan O’Connor turns mining waste into critical minerals, American innovation helps reshape the supply chains of the future.
Megan O’Connor
Megan O’Connor is an American entrepreneur, engineer, and climate technology leader who is the co-founder and CEO of Nth Cycle, a company developing cleaner technologies to recover and refine critical minerals. She founded Nth Cycle in 2017 to address growing concerns around the United States’ dependence on foreign sources of minerals such as nickel and cobalt, which are essential to batteries, clean energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing. Her company developed a modular refining technology designed to recover critical minerals from mining waste and recycled materials while significantly reducing the environmental impact of traditional extraction. O’Connor has been recognized by TIME as one of its 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders and was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for energy. Her work sits at the intersection of climate innovation, critical minerals, energy security, and domestic manufacturing, making her an increasingly influential voice in efforts to build more resilient and sustainable American supply chains.
Spencer Cox
When Spencer Cox turns Utah into a laboratory for growth and innovation, state leadership becomes a force in America's global competitiveness.
Spencer Cox
Spencer J. Cox is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th governor of Utah, a role he assumed in 2021 after serving as the state’s lieutenant governor from 2013 to 2021. Raised on a family farm in Fairview, Utah, the Republican leader has prioritized fiscal conservatism and community resilience, cutting over $1.1 billion in taxes, securing historic education funding, and passing landmark water conservation laws. As part of his “Built Here” second-term strategic plan, Cox has focused heavily on housing affordability—approving thousands of new starter homes—and spearheaded national advocacy for youth mental health, including filing major lawsuits against social media companies. Demonstrating a commitment to cross-partisan collaboration, his most recent major impact includes launching the Recovery Utah Initiative, an executive order that made Utah the first state to partner with the federal administration to aggressively coordinate local, faith-based, and public safety resources to combat homelessness, addiction, and serious mental illness.
Jane Fraser
When Jane Fraser connects businesses and capital across borders, American finance becomes infrastructure for global commerce.
Jane Fraser
Jane Fraser is the Chair and CEO of Citigroup, making her one of the most influential leaders in global banking and financial services. She became Citi’s CEO in 2021 and is the first woman to lead one of the major U.S. global banks. Fraser has led the company through a significant transformation focused on simplifying its operations, strengthening its balance sheet, and expanding its capabilities across global markets. She has spent more than two decades at Citi, holding senior leadership positions across consumer banking, wealth management, and international operations. Her leadership gives her significant influence over global capital flows, corporate investment, and the role of the financial sector in shaping the international economy.
Adena Friedman
When Adena Friedman expands the reach of American capital markets, financial infrastructure becomes a channel for global connection.
Adena Friedman
Adena Friedman is the Chair and CEO of Nasdaq, one of the world’s leading financial markets and technology companies, where she has served as CEO since 2017 and Chair since 2023. She has played a central role in transforming Nasdaq from a traditional stock exchange into a global technology company providing market infrastructure, financial data, cybersecurity, and other technology solutions across six continents. Friedman previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, where she helped lead the firm through its 2012 public offering, and earlier held numerous leadership positions at Nasdaq, including CFO and head of corporate strategy. She serves on the Business Roundtable and chairs its Technology Committee, giving her a prominent voice in discussions around technology, capital markets, and American competitiveness. Friedman has also been a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and serves on the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. Through her leadership of Nasdaq and engagement with business and economic policymakers, Friedman has significant influence over global financial markets, financial technology, and the future of America's capital markets.
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Jack Fusco
When Jack Fusco expands America's role in global energy markets, energy becomes a channel of economic and strategic influence.
Jack Fusco
Jack Fusco is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Cheniere Energy, the leading U.S. producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), where he has served as CEO since 2016 and chairman since 2026. Under his leadership, Cheniere has expanded its role in the global LNG market, supplying natural gas to customers across Europe, Asia, and other international markets and strengthening the United States’ position as a major global energy exporter. Fusco brings more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry, having previously served as CEO of Calpine Corporation, where he helped guide the company out of bankruptcy and grow it into the largest U.S. generator of electricity from natural gas. He also held senior roles at Goldman Sachs, Texas Genco, Orion Power Holdings, and Pacific Gas & Electric, giving him extensive experience spanning energy production, commodity markets, infrastructure, and finance. Fusco has been repeatedly recognized as one of the leading executives in the natural gas industry, including being named the 2025 Chief Executive of the Year by the Platts Global Energy Awards. His leadership places him at the center of U.S. energy security, global LNG trade, and the evolving geopolitical role of American energy exports.
Roger Goodell
When Roger Goodell takes American football to new audiences around the world, the NFL becomes a vehicle for American cultural connection.
Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), a position he has held since 2007. He oversees one of the world’s most commercially successful sports organizations, with significant influence across sports, entertainment, media, and American culture. Under his leadership, the NFL has expanded its international presence, strengthened its media and streaming partnerships, and pursued the growth of football in new global markets. Goodell has also helped guide the league through major conversations around player safety, social issues, diversity, and the evolving relationship between professional sports and society. Through the NFL’s enormous global reach, he is a prominent figure in shaping American sports diplomacy and the country’s cultural influence abroad.
Jensen Huang
When Jensen Huang builds the computing infrastructure powering the AI era, American technology helps define the future of the global economy.
Jensen Huang
Jensen Huang founded NVIDIA in 1993 and has served since its inception as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. Starting out in PC graphics, NVIDIA helped build the gaming market into the largest entertainment industry in the world today. Its invention of the GPU in 1999 made possible real-time programmable shading, which defines modern computer graphics, and later revolutionized parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern AI — the next era of computing — with the GPU acting as the brain of computers, robots and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. Prior to founding NVIDIA, Huang worked at LSI Logic and Advanced Micro Devices. He holds a BSEE degree from Oregon State University and an MSEE degree from Stanford University.
Michele Kang
When Michele Kang invests in the future of women's sports, American sports culture gains a new global audience.
Michele Kang
Michele Kang is a Korean-American entrepreneur, healthcare technology executive, and philanthropist best known as the owner of the Washington Spirit and founder of Kynisca Sports International. A longtime leader in healthcare technology, Kang has built a career focused on innovation and improving healthcare outcomes through technology and data. She has emerged as a major investor in women’s sports, acquiring leading football clubs and advocating for greater investment, visibility, and resources for female athletes. Through Kynisca, she is working to build a global platform for women’s football and elevate the professional standards of the sport. Kang’s influence spans healthcare, business, philanthropy, and the rapidly growing global women’s sports industry.
Dr. Reshma Kewalramani
When Reshma Kewalramani advances breakthrough medicines, American life sciences turn innovation into global health impact.
Dr. Reshma Kewalramani
Dr. Reshma Kewalramani is the President and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where she leads the development of innovative medicines for serious diseases. A physician and biotech executive, she has helped advance breakthrough treatments in areas including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. Kewalramani is recognized for her leadership at the intersection of medicine, biotechnology, and global health.
Fei-Fei Li
When Fei-Fei Li helps define how the world builds artificial intelligence, American research helps shape the technologies of the future.
Fei-Fei Li
Fei-Fei Li is a pioneering computer scientist, Stanford University professor, and co-founder and CEO of World Labs, an AI company focused on spatial intelligence and generative AI. She is the inaugural Sequoia Professor of Computer Science at Stanford and the founding director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). Li is widely recognized for creating ImageNet, the landmark dataset and benchmarking system that helped catalyze the modern deep-learning revolution. She previously served as director of Stanford’s AI Lab and as vice president and chief scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud. Her research now focuses on spatial intelligence, robotic learning and AI systems capable of understanding and interacting with the physical world. Through World Labs, Li is working to establish spatial intelligence as the next frontier of AI, including technology that can generate and simulate 3D environments for robotics. In 2025, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for breakthroughs that helped advance computer vision and deep learning, further cementing her influence on the development and direction of modern AI.
Patrick Mahomes
When Patrick Mahomes becomes a global ambassador for American sports, the reach of American culture extends far beyond the field.
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is an American professional football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the most influential athletes of his generation. Since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018, Mahomes has led the team to three Super Bowl championships and has earned three Super Bowl MVP awards and two NFL MVP awards. Known for his innovative playing style, leadership, and extraordinary ability to perform under pressure, he has helped redefine the modern quarterback position and become one of the most recognizable figures in global sports. Beyond football, Mahomes has built a significant platform through business, philanthropy, and community engagement, including his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, which supports children’s health, education, communities, and opportunities. He is also a co-owner of the Kansas City Current, Kansas City Royals, and Sporting Kansas City, expanding his influence across professional sports and the Kansas City community. Through his athletic achievements, entrepreneurial activities, and philanthropic work, Mahomes has become a powerful ambassador for American sports and culture around the world.
Dr. Kiran Musunuru
When Kiran Musunuru turns genetic research into new possibilities for medicine, American science expands the boundaries of global health.
Dr. Kiran Musunuru
Dr. Kiran Musunuru is a cardiologist, geneticist, and leading gene-editing researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he serves as the Barry J. Gertz Professor for Translational Research and directs the Genetic and Epigenetic Origins of Disease Program. His research focuses on using genetics and CRISPR-based gene editing to develop new treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including approaches that could permanently reduce the risk of heart disease through a single treatment. Musunuru has made important contributions to understanding the genetic factors that regulate cholesterol and cardiovascular risk and has helped translate those discoveries into potential therapeutic applications. He is also Co-Director of the Penn Medicine/CHOP Orphan Disease Center and Scientific Director of Penn’s Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease. In 2026, Musunuru was named to the TIME100 Health list alongside colleagues involved in the development of the world’s first patient-tailored CRISPR gene-editing therapy. His work places him at the forefront of precision medicine and genome editing, with significant implications for the future of global health, biotechnology, and the treatment of previously difficult-to-treat diseases.
Christopher Nolan
When Christopher Nolan brings American filmmaking to global audiences, Hollywood becomes a powerful channel for cultural influence.
Christopher Nolan
Sir Christopher Nolan is an acclaimed British-American filmmaker known for ambitious, visually striking films that explore time, memory, identity, and human perception. He has directed major films including The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture. Renowned for his innovative storytelling and large-scale filmmaking, Nolan is one of the most influential directors of his generation.
Ryan Petersen
When Ryan Petersen helps companies navigate global supply chains, American technology becomes infrastructure for international trade.
Ryan Petersen
Ryan Petersen is the Founder and CEO of Flexport, a global technology company focused on freight forwarding, logistics, and supply chain management. He founded Flexport in 2013 after previously co-founding ImportGenius, a company that provides data and intelligence on global shipping and trade. Under Petersen’s leadership, Flexport has grown into a major player in global trade, helping thousands of companies manage the movement of goods across international markets. He has become an influential voice on supply-chain resilience, U.S. trade policy, tariffs, and the need to modernize the infrastructure underlying global commerce. Petersen has also invested in more than 100 technology companies, including SpaceX, Anduril, Robinhood, and other high-growth startups. His work sits at the intersection of technology, international trade, logistics, and economic security, making him a significant figure in conversations about the future of global supply chains and American competitiveness.
Linda Rottenberg
When Linda Rottenberg helps entrepreneurs build across borders, American ideas about innovation travel with them.
Linda Rottenberg
Linda Rottenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, which she launched in 1997 to identify and support high-growth entrepreneurs in markets outside traditional centers of venture capital. Over nearly three decades, she has built Endeavor into a global network spanning more than 50 countries, connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and business leaders and helping create the ecosystems needed for companies to scale. A graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, Rottenberg has become a leading voice on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and economic opportunity. Through Endeavor Catalyst and the organization’s broader network, she has helped channel capital and expertise toward founders in overlooked markets, including entrepreneurs behind companies such as Mercado Libre, Nubank, and Globant. In 2026, she has continued expanding Endeavor’s global footprint and advocating for a more geographically diverse map of innovation, arguing that the next generation of transformative companies will be built well beyond Silicon Valley.
Goli Sheikholeslami
When Goli Sheikholeslami expands American journalism's reach, information becomes a channel for connection across borders.
Goli Sheikholeslami
Goli Sheikholeslami is the CEO of POLITICO, where she oversees the organization’s journalism, business and international growth. She joined POLITICO in 2022 after serving as CEO of the Chicago Public Media group, where she led the transformation of WBEZ and helped create a stronger, more sustainable public-media organization. Before that, Sheikholeslami served as president and CEO of New York Public Radio and held senior leadership roles at the Washington Post Company. She has built her career around expanding the reach and influence of news organizations while adapting them to changing media and business models. Under her leadership, POLITICO has continued to expand its global footprint beyond its U.S. and European foundations. In 2026, the organization launched POLITICO Australia, establishing a presence in Canberra and making Australia its third continental market. The expansion reflects Sheikholeslami’s broader strategy of turning POLITICO into a global network for political and policy intelligence.
Gwynne Shotwell
When Gwynne Shotwell builds the technologies connecting the world, American innovation reaches beyond Earth.
Gwynne Shotwell
Gwynne Shotwell is the President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX and one of the most influential executives in the global aerospace industry. She joined SpaceX in 2002 as its 11th employee and played a central role in transforming the company from an emerging startup into a leading provider of commercial and government space services. As president and COO, Shotwell oversees day-to-day operations, customer and strategic relationships, and the company’s broader growth, including its work with NASA, the U.S. government, and international partners. She previously spent more than a decade at The Aerospace Corporation, where she worked in spacecraft engineering, technology, project management, and space policy. Shotwell has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential women in technology and aerospace and has been a prominent advocate for STEM education and expanding opportunities in engineering. Her leadership places her at the forefront of America’s commercial space industry, satellite communications, and the evolving global competition for space and technological leadership.
Gretchen Whitmer
When Gretchen Whitmer brings global investment to Michigan, state leadership becomes part of America's economic diplomacy.
Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer is an American attorney and politician who has served as Governor of Michigan since 2019, becoming the state’s 49th governor and winning reelection to a second term in 2022. A lifelong Michigander, she previously served in the Michigan Legislature, including as Senate Democratic Leader, and as Ingham County Prosecutor. As governor, Whitmer has prioritized economic development, infrastructure, education, workforce development, and expanding Michigan’s competitiveness for business and advanced manufacturing investment. Her administration has also made major investments in clean energy, mobility, and efforts to attract global companies and jobs to the state. Whitmer has emerged as a prominent national political figure and a leading voice on the role of states in strengthening American manufacturing, infrastructure, and economic opportunity. Her influence spans state and national politics, economic development, and the future of the American industrial base.
Dr. Peggy Whitson
When Peggy Whitson pushes American leadership into commercial space, the next frontier becomes a new arena for American influence.
Dr. Peggy Whitson
Dr. Peggy Whitson is an American biochemist, astronaut, and commercial spaceflight leader who serves as Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. A former NASA astronaut, Whitson spent a record-setting 695 days in space, more than any other American astronaut or woman in the world, across three NASA missions and two Axiom Space missions. She was the first woman to command the International Space Station twice, the first woman and first non-military officer to lead NASA’s Astronaut Office, and the first woman to command a private astronaut mission. She has conducted 10 spacewalks and contributed to hundreds of experiments spanning biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science. Following her NASA career, Whitson has become a leading figure in the commercialization of human spaceflight, helping Axiom expand private and international access to the International Space Station and advance the development of the next generation of commercial space infrastructure. Her career places her at the forefront of American space exploration, scientific research, and the rapidly growing global commercial space economy.
Mike Wirth
When Mike Wirth shapes America's role in global energy markets, business becomes a force in the country's international influence.
Mike Wirth
Mike Wirth is Chairman and CEO of Chevron, a position he has held since 2018 after joining the company as a design engineer in 1982. Over four decades, he has held leadership roles across global supply and trading, chemicals, downstream operations, and midstream development. Under his leadership, Chevron has expanded U.S. energy production and pursued major investments to strengthen global energy security, including the $53 billion acquisition of Hess. Wirth has also made American energy abundance a central part of his leadership, arguing that reliable energy is increasingly critical to U.S. competitiveness as AI and data centers drive unprecedented electricity demand. In 2026, he has continued positioning Chevron to meet that demand while expanding production and investment in the United States.