What makes an individual worthy of being deemed influential? You may think it’s their wealth, business, philanthropy, and charity work – and you’re probably right. Many things make up an influential person, and it’s no secret that social media has inspired many others to become influential themselves. While we understand how influencers make their living, do we know where they may have gotten their inspiration from? Does inspiration come from within, or do we get it from others? Perhaps it’s both.
If you don’t have anyone to look up to or would like to find inspiration, here’s a list of five influential people you can look up to.
1. Malliha Wilson
In the world of law and order, you may be familiar with TV shows that celebrate people in the industry and their sharp skills to win legal battles in the courtroom. Most of these shows are too extravagant and fail to truly show the nature and dedication actual lawyers like Malliha Wilson work with on their daily workday.
Malliha Wilson is a Tamil-Canadian attorney who served as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Government of Ontario from 2008 to 2016. She has a strong background helping her people from Sri Lanka in Canada and a family history behind it all. Her grandfather was S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, a famous Ceylon Tamil lawyer, politician, and Member of Parliament. He fought for his people’s rights through activist movements and the application of the law. Malliha carries on his legacy through her law firm, Nava Wilson LLP, in which she and her business partners work on complex litigations, corporate law, and real estate cases.
2. Elon Musk
Another influential role model of our times includes Elon Musk, one of the top entrepreneurs and businessmen of the century. Named Time Magazine’s person on the year in 2021, Elon Musk has had many important milestones in the name of our humanity. He worked on different projects throughout the years, but he’s mostly recognized for his two multi-million dollar companies: Tesla and SpaceX. Musk has redesigned the space race with SpaceX’s distinguished rocket models and restored humanity’s hope in the space race and alternate electricity and power generation sources.
3. Suzanne Clark
Our third influential person comes from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Suzanne Clark. She has been appointed as the President of this office to lead the country’s businesses’ recovery from the havoc of the pandemic. She has served on several senior leadership positions within the Chamber and has led the Potomac Research Group, a financial firm, and served as the National Journal Group president. Suzanne Clark leaves her legacy at the American University’s Sine Institution of Policy and Politics, where she teaches about the private sector’s job creation.
4. Warren Buffet
Warren Buffett is an American business magnate, philanthropist, investor, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (a multinational conglomerate holding company). Multiple sources have considered Buffet the most successful investor globally, and many people look up to him to make precise and smart moves in the stock market. He has been a full-time investor from the age of seven when he first showed interest in the market and proceeded to work on his small businesses to make a living.
5. Maya Angelou
Lastly, we can recognize another influential role model that has inspired people in all corners of the world with her poetry and activism—Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou left her civil rights legacy in each word she conveyed in her books, autobiographies, essays, poems, and other digital media outlets. For over 50 years, Maya Angelou was a spokesperson for black culture, women, and family, and is still impacting different communities.
Find your inspiration and let it consume you to do good in the world.
