Putting purpose before profit is a trait of leaders who place humanity above ambition. Michael R. Quinlan, former CEO of McDonald’s, rose from the mail room to the boardroom but never forgot a core value: “people for others,” a principle that places service and a commitment to advancing justice at the heart of leadership. His global focus, customer-centric mindset, and refusal to attack competitors led to significant expansion during his tenure—more than doubling McDonald’s revenue and global imprint. Quinlan’s care for people extended beyond work, as seen in his Ronald McDonald House Charities trusteeship and in his multimillion-dollar support for students at his alma maters.
Ogilvy’s Global Chief Creative Officer Piyush Pandey understood the “people power” of creative storytelling. Starting in his native India, he was the creative force behind ads that paired Cadbury chocolate with cricket and Fevicol glue with furniture, using his talent to reflect Indian life and culture while addressing public health. In what he deemed his “most satisfying campaign,” he joined forces with UNICEF to successfully end polio in India. During Pandey’s tenure, Ogilvy India was one of the most awarded agencies globally. Douglas Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree, established the company as a digital marketplace and financial empowerment tool for customers seeking more information about lenders. Twenty years later, he returned to his alma mater to teach entrepreneurship to students. He also launched a foundation, whose altruistic contributions reflect a commitment to helping the underserved.
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A long-haul visionary, a red-carpet regular, and a cinematic idealist
McKinsey’s India office founder, a philanthropic billionaire cheese maker, and a champion of Afghan girls
