IBM

Mark Dean, 52, Vice-President for Technical Strategy at IBM Research since August 2008

Biggest accomplishment in this job: Creating collaborative partnerships between IBM (IBM) Research and companies, governments, and academic institutions around the world. Dean says, for instance, that he worked with chocolate maker Mars and the U.S. Agriculture Dept. to map the DNA of the cocoa tree, to create healthier, stronger cocoa crops with higher yields, higher resistance to disease and pests, and more efficient use of water and nutrients.

Previous experience: Dean started with IBM in 1980 and had run IBM's San Jose research center before his latest promotion. In 1995, he became the first African-American to be named an IBM fellow, the company's highest technical post. Dean holds three of the nine patents for the original IBM PC. He has a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Innovation philosophy: "Driving innovation in today's global environment requires passion, a willingness to take calculated risks, and a focus on collaboration. Without a team of people working together to make a vision into reality, solving tough problems is impossible. In order to innovate, you must have an open mind, be willing to explore uncharted territories, and appreciate the insights of many individuals."