(1912-1996)

Known for: Hewlett-Packard (Net revenue, 2010: $126 billion)

Quote: “I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists solely to make money. Money is an important part of a company’s existence, if the company is any good. But a result is not a cause. We have to go deeper and find the real reason for our being.”

About: Established Hewlett-Packard in 1939 with Bill Hewlett in Packard’s garage with capital of $538. His strength lay in manufacturing processes. In 1947, he became president of the company, a post he held until 1964, when he was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer.

University education: Bachelor of Arts and master’s in electrical engineering, Stanford University