World's top 50 'inspirational leaders' revealed – read the full list

14 November 2023 , 17:09

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Malala is a global advocate for women's education rights (Image: Getty Images)

The world’s 50 most inspiring and motivational "thought leaders" have been selected in a list of 50, ranging right from activist and rapper Akala to businessman Lord Alan Sugar.

defines a thought leader as someone who is “specialised in a given area and whom others in that industry turn to for guidance”, which can mean through how they manage their industry to how they campaign for a cause. It says that anyone who wishes to be a thought leader must ask themselves the following questions: Are you firm in your purpose and beliefs? Are you staying true to yourself? Are you willing to shout about and defend your purpose?

It requires having a “unique point of view and consistently living it” - and must therefore inspire genuine change in society. With that in mind, the Motivational Speakers Agency compiled their list of the world’s top 50 thought leaders.

With 61 per cent feeling burnout in their jobs, according to the agency, motivating workforces is vital - and thought leaders are central in doing so. Their list ranges from mental health leaders to politics and sports - and selects some of today’ most inspiring people. We take a look at the top six in the list.

1. Simon Sinek

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Sinek’s famous TedTalk ‘Start With Why – How Great Leaders Inspire Action’ has been viewed a whopping 60 million times on Youtube. The Wimbledon-born English-American author and speaker is one of the world’s most renowned inspirational speakers on business leadership. He launched The Optimism Company, a digital learning platform.

2. Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins is a renowned business strategist known for his seminars and self-help books, including Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within. The California-born speaker has also engaged in philanthropy.

World's top 50 'inspirational leaders' revealed – read the full list

Simon Sinek is a motivational author and speaker (Clutch Pockets Wambli/REX/Shutterstock)

Tony Robbins is a philanthropist and renowned business strategist (Getty Images North America)

3. Arianna Huffington

This is far from Huffington’s first acclaim, after she was also named World’s 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine and as one of the Most Powerful Women by Forbes. The Huffington Post founder has written 15 books and is expert in “building a culture of resilience to how to lead in the age of uncertainty”, according to the Motivational Speakers Agency.

Arianna Huffington founded Thrive Global and the Huffington Post (Soul Brother/REX/Shutterstock for AWNewYork)

4. Duncan Wardle

Creator and innovator Duncan Wardle is a leading innovation consultant and seen as a leading thought leader on corporate creativity. He is best known for being the Head of Innovation and Creativity for The Walt Disney Company.

Duncan Wardle was given an honorary degree at Edinburgh Napier University (Edeinburgh Napier University)

5. Akala

A rapper, activist and poet, Akala has a reputation for his scathing criticism of social ills and his outspoken speeches on injustice. An author too, he wrote NATIVES - a Sunday Times Bestseller - and The Ruins of Empires, and now uses his platform to discuss everything from youth engagement in politics and activism to black British culture. He talks of the remnants of imperialism, class, and race in his speeches.

Akala is a well-known British activist particularly among the British youth (Liverpool Echo)

6. Malala Yousafzai

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The Nobel Peace Prize winner who became famous after the Taliban attempted to assassinate her for speaking out on women’s educational rights in Pakistan was a no-brainer on the list. “Surviving the gunshot, Malala has since become the Founder of the Malala Fund and has dedicated her life to achieving gender equality – spearheading opportunities for female education,” the Motivational Speaker’s Agency said. “A global thought leader on educational and women’s rights, Malala is a true inspiration to all.”