The world has seen its fair share of innovative and influential administrators throughout the ages who have made major contributions to the shaping of history and the progression of mankind. Here is a list of the top 100 management masters of all time, who have greatly impacted the course of the worlds history.
1. Aristotle: Ancient Greek philosopher, scientist and teacher. He is considered to be the father of Western philosophy, and his insights into reason and knowledge are still highly influential in modern society.
2. Sun Tzu: Ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher. His writings on the art of war remain the foundation of military strategy to this day.
3. Plato: The founding father of western philosophy and one of the most influential thinkers in history. His works impacted philosophy, politics, religion, art and science.
4. Machiavelli: Classical Italian political philosopher, best known for his treatise The Prince which is still studied by political and military strategists.
5. Alexander the Great: The ancient Greek king and military leader who conquered much of the known world during the 4th century BC. He is still considered one of the most successful military commanders of all time.
6. Julius Caesar: Ancient Roman military commander and politician. He is considered one of Romes greatest rulers, and his influence on the Roman Empire is still evident today.
7. Napoleon Bonaparte: French Revolutionary-era military and political leader. He is often remembered for his military successes and administrative sovereignty.
8. Abraham Lincoln: 16th President of the United States of America. He is remembered for leading the country through the American Civil War and abolishing slavery.
9. Harry S. Truman: 33rd President of the United States. He led the country through the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War.
10. Winston Churchill: British Prime Minister during the Second World War. He is well-remembered for his strong leadership during the war, his inspirational speeches, and his ability to rally the country.
11. Mahatma Gandhi: Indian political and spiritual leader famous for leading a successful nonviolent resistance movement against British rule.
12. Martin Luther King Jr.: African American civil rights leader; his peaceful protests, public speeches, and activism for civil rights for all was a major force in ending segregation in the United States.
13. Adolf Hitler: German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. His totalitarian approach to government led to incredible destruction and the death of millions.
14. Vladimir Lenin: Russian revolutionary leader and the first President of the Soviet Union. His synthesis of Marxism and Leninism shaped 20th century global politics.
15. Deng Xiaoping: Chinese down-to-earth revolutionary leader, politician and reformer. His reforms and policies helped lift China out of poverty and enabled it to become a world power.
16. Franklin D. Roosevelt: 32nd President of the United States. His presidency was marked by his implementation of the New Deal and his leadership in World War II.
17. Bill Gates: American business tycoon, philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft Corporation. His software company revolutionized the world of personal computing and had a large impact on the development of the internet.
18. Nelson Mandela: South African political leader, president and anti-apartheid activist. He is well-known for his human rights activism, and his efforts in ending apartheid in South Africa.
19. Steve Jobs: American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc. He revolutionized the tech industry with the introduction of the iPhone and the other technologies his company developed.
20. Jeff Bezos: American entrepreneur and the founder of Amazon. His online retail company changed the way people shop and is now the largest e-commerce site in the world.
21. Oprah Winfrey: American television host, actress, producer and philanthropist. She revolutionized talk shows and is well-known for her humanitarian works and promoting self-improvement.
22. Margaret Thatcher: British politician, Prime Minister and the first woman to hold the office. She implemented a series of economic reforms and modernized the country during her time in office.
23. Marie Curie: Polish-born scientist who is famous for discovering the elements radium and polonium and winning two Nobel Prizes. Her works in radioactivity revolutionized science and medicine.
24. Jack Welch: Former CEO of General Electric; he is known for revolutionizing the way large companies are managed and his approach to leadership.
25. Warren Buffett: American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. His famous investing strategies have made him one of the worlds wealthiest people.
26. Andreas Papandreou: Prime Minister of Greece for two terms. He is remembered for his progressive social and economic reforms and policies.
27. Peter Drucker: Austrian-American management consultant, educator and author; He is credited with creating the framework for modern management.
28. Mohandas Gandhi: Indian civil rights leader and spiritual leader best known for his nonviolent methods of protest and his philosophy of satyagraha.
29. Susan B. Anthony: American reformer and womens rights activist. She fought for the abolition of slavery and the right for women to vote.
30. Booker T. Washington: American civil rights leader and educator. He advocated for educational and economic opportunities for African Americans.
31. Michel Foucault: French philosopher and historian of ideas. His works on power, knowledge and discourse still influence ideas on social issues.
32. Aung San Suu Kyi: Burmese opposition leader and politician. Her struggle against dictatorial rule and her efforts to promote democracy in Burma have earned her much praise.
33. Akio Morita: Japanese businessman and co-founder of Sony Corporation. He helped revolutionize consumer electronics and is credited for creating the “Sony Style”.
34. Alan Greenspan: American economist who served as Federal Reserve Chairman from 1987-2006. His monetary policy decisions regulated the economy and helped maintain a period of rapid economic growth.
35. Ray Kroc: American businessman and fast food restaurateur. He developed and popularized the McDonald’s fast food franchise.
36. Genghis Khan: Mongol Empire conqueror and founder of the largest contiguous empire in history. His far-reaching empire and leadership technique revolutionized the way of life in the region.
37. Ludwig van Beethoven: German composer and pianist. His works revolutionized classical music and changed the course of world music.
38. Alexander Graham Bell: Scottish born inventor and engineer who is credited for inventing the telephone. His invention changed the way people communicated with each other for years to come.
39. Thomas Edison: American inventor and businessman who was responsible for a number of revolutionary inventions including the light bulb and the phonograph.
40. Mohammed Ali Jinnah: Pakistani lawyer, politician and the founder of Pakistan. He is remembered for his dedication to achieving the Muslim majority state of Pakistan.
41. Comte de Saint-Germain: 18th century adventurer and occultist who proposed progressive theories of government. His beliefs are still studied in his books and works today.
42. Dr. Jonas Salk: American medical researcher who developed and tested the first successful polio vaccine. His success revolutionized the healthcare industry and saved millions of lives.
43. Deng Yingchao: Chinese Communist revolutionary and the widow of Zhou Enlai. She was a powerful political figure in China and is considered to be one of the four ‘modern Chinese matriarchs’.
44. Cleopatra: Ancient Egyptian ruler who is known for her political prowess and her turbulent relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
45. William of Orange: Dutch rebel leader who led the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule and became the first stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.
46. Nicolaus Copernicus: Polish Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a heliocentric view of the universe and changed how people thought about scientific theories.
47. Karl Marx: German philosopher, economist and revolutionary socialist. His works including The Communist Manifesto are seen as the groundwork of Marxism.
48. Benazir Bhutto: 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan who is best remembered for her meaningful political reforms during her brief time in office.
49. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule: Indian social activist, educator and reformer. His works helped eradicate untouchability in India and secured equal rights for women.
50. Emma Goldman: Lithuanian-born anarchist who advocated for women’s rights, civil rights and workers’ rights. Her writings are still studied in political philosophy today.
51. Ferdinand Magellan: Portuguese explorer and navigator who was the first European to circumnavigate the globe.
52. Queen Isabella I of Castile: Spanish sovereign who funded the expeditions of Christopher Columbus and helped unify Spain.
53. Augusto Pinochet: Chilean dictator who ruled from 1973-1990 and implemented controversial economic policies.
54. Subhash Chandra Bose: Indian independence activist whose work is credited for the Indian National Congress becoming a hardline organization.
55. Fidel Castro: Cuban socialist revolutionary and statesman who was the President of the Cuban Republic from 1976-2008.
56. Raphael Lemkin: Polish-born lawyer who coined the term “genocide” and campaigned for its inclusion in international law.
57. Mikhail Gorbachev: former President of the Soviet Union who is remembered for his openness and reform policies.
58. David Ben-Gurion: Israeli statesman who is credited as the founder of the State of Israel
