The cover of the June Fast Company magazine is the fifth 100 Most Creative People in Business feature. This had to be a massive project, especially since the ground rules include that there can be no repeats from previous lists, and the 100 people also could not have been profiled by the magazine previously.
Studying the profiles on this list, both in the beautifully-designed magazine and in the enhanced online version, is a great way to learn about how highly creative people are making a difference in a variety of fields. It is especially good for learning about new people and relatively unfamiliar companies, along with the more recognizable names. Plus it makes for fun, compulsive reading, especially online, which includes links for the entire 2010 and 2011 lists.
Number one this year is “data demystifier” Nate Silver, who writes the FiveThirtyEight blog on NYTimes.com, and #100 is Leslie Bradshaw, Chief Operating Office of tech startup Guide. A handy feature both in print (and enhanced online), is a where-are-they-now section on selected people from previous lists, going back to the first in 2009. Many are still thriving. But some others demonstrate that there are peaks and valleys for even the most creative people, such as Ron Johnson, #4 on the 2012 list. He was ousted earlier this year after a relatively brief post-Apple tenure as CEO of JCPenney.
Singling out only 100 people is no doubt difficult, subjective and can lead to carping and complaints. But this list serves a valuable function. “In an era in which best-laid plans are quickly disrupted,” Editor Robert Safian writes, “the need for new tactics is constant. And that creates a need for constant inspiration.”
