5 ways entrepreneurs are changing the world for the better

June is a special time for me because it’s when we gather in Monaco to celebrate the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year?. At this time, we honor the remarkable achievements of our competition finalists — the entrepreneurial trailblazers who have helped to transform our global economy and society.

As the Class of 2024 finalists, the entrepreneurs in Monaco this year are the national winners of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year? competitions around the world. They represent 47 different countries and territories and are all competing for the ultimate accolade: the global title.

But entrepreneurs are not just the lifeblood of innovation and economic growth — they are the architects of tomorrow, constantly pushing boundaries to create a more prosperous world.

As the EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader, I can’t wait to celebrate the accomplishments of these extraordinary individuals. Through their ambition, determination and sheer entrepreneurial spirit, they’ve not only made a difference in their own markets, they’ve also had a significant impact on the global stage. By launching and scaling businesses with purpose, they’re unleashing the power of positive change.

Between them, the Class of 2024 finalists are actively reshaping our world. As I consider their work worldwide, I see them having the greatest impact in these five ways:

1. Fostering financial inclusion

Financial exclusion is an issue for around one in five people in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum. It’s also an issue that Antonio Soares, founder and CEO of Brazil-based Dock, cares passionately about. Dock provides payments and banking technology to companies in the region, powering 70 million active accounts and over eight billion annual transactions while processing more than US$240b annually. Soares says he wakes up every day, wondering how he can bring more people within the financial system.??

On the other side of the world, Ali Niknam, founder of Netherlands-based challenger bank bunq, is also making a positive social impact in the financial space.?

2. Enabling the world’s changing talent pool

Many nations are having to confront the challenges posed by aging populations and declining birth rates. In Japan, Soichiro “Swimmy” Minami is tackling these challenges head-on through Visional, a data management platform that helps companies to better identify, analyze and manage talent, and reduce the impact of unconscious bias in corporate decision-making. The result? A more equitable, diverse and dynamic workforce, poised to thrive despite the demographic shifts underway.

3. Empowering women

Women around the world find it tough to balance motherhood with work. As founder and CEO of mother and baby care brand Hegen, Yvon Bock is helping to empower mothers in their breastfeeding and motherhood journey by providing perinatal lactation support. Hegen’s feeding system protects the integrity of breastmilk, simplifying the way mothers express, store and feed. Bock has set herself the ambitious goal of serving 100 million mothers globally.?

But she’s not the only one making a massive difference for her gender.?Gina?Diez Barroso Azcárraga, creator of Mexico-based Grupo Diarq, a leader in architecture and interior design, CENTRO University and lighting brand Diez Company, has also made it her mission to empower other women. She founded Dalia Empower, a global project that helps women achieve their personal and professional goals through lifelong learning, and fosters a supportive community for women’s mutual growth.

4. Building sustainable business models

The existential threat of climate change is driving the shift to more sustainable business models. In fact, over a third of global entrepreneurs (35%) say that adopting sustainable sourcing practices and launching recyclable and reusable products are critical to their 2024 business plans, according to a recent EY survey.

Sustainability is central to the business model of Italian multinational the Bolton Group. Headed by Marina Nissim, the group is targeting 100% reusable packaging by 2025 and more than 80% of its electricity comes from renewable sources. Also, it actively promotes the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The group’s Bolton Hope Foundation promotes community improvement and the right to education for every human being.?

5. Bringing joy through creativity

South Korean music producer Si-Hyuk Bang, popularly known as the mastermind behind iconic band BTS, has a vision to make his company, HYBE, the world’s best music-based entertainment lifestyle platform. Under his leadership, HYBE expects to continually develop new businesses addressing many aspects of entertainment in specialized areas like concerts, media content, intellectual property, and games. Several of these business lines may integrate artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and gaming technologies as HYBE looks toward the future of entertainment.

Making a difference

While their impact is significant, the EY World Entrepreneur Of the Year Class of 2024 are part of an even larger movement: the millions of entrepreneurs who are reshaping our world for the better. Entrepreneurs matter hugely — not only because they are the lifeblood of innovation and economic growth, but because they are the architects of tomorrow, constantly pushing boundaries to create a more prosperous world.

That’s why EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year is more than simply an event. It’s a celebration and salute to the entrepreneurial spirit that is fueling economic growth, protecting our environment and driving our society forward. Thanks to the Class of 2024 and other entrepreneurs, our planet is a better place to live.

How do you think entrepreneurs change the world for the better? Tell me in the comments below.?

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms