Percy Barnevik
Then: As CEO of the Swiss engineering company ABB (1988-96), he became known as the European version of GE's Jack Welch, but his legend was tarnished by the size of his $88 million pension in 1996, a large portion of which he later gave back.
Now: Barnevik focuses his energy on Hand in Hand, an organization devoted to improving the lives of the extremely poor.
The group provides microfinance to poor women in India who want to start businesses. One condition: they have to complete training in reading, writing, and math before getting the first small loan.
So far, Hand in Hand has ignited 539,000 enterprises by 609,000 women in India and boasts a payback rate of 99.5% on the loans. "The root of the problem is that people don't have jobs they can live on," says Barnevik, 69. His goal is to create 10 million good ones.
By Ellen Florian
NEXT: Geraldine Laybourne
Last updated October 28 2010: 8:20 AM ET
