Leaders

Every week, a portrait of a woman or a man moving an industry. Sponsored portraits are labelled as such, at the top of the page.

Founder of Solstice Grid · Dakar

She electrifies 90 villages a year with a model banks refused to finance three years ago.

Research director, Hoshi Robotics · Osaka

His bet: warehouse robots that learn in three days, with no engineer on site.

Chief executive of Vela Bio · Barcelone

She turns peel into food packaging and has just signed with two retail chains.

Chief executive of Dunes Capital · Dubaï

He steers a Gulf fund towards African manufacturing, against the grain of his market.