2025 Laureate

Kathryn
Minshew

Kathryn Minshew is the founder and former CEO of The Muse, a pioneering career platform that redefined how people find and grow in their professional lives.

  • Born (Nigeria)

  • Co-founded PiggyVest

  • Founded Feminist Coalition and named to Vogue's "12 Women Leaders that Changed the World in 2020"

  • Launched FirstCheck Africa and profiled by the UN's Africa Renewal magazine and The New York Times

  • Inducted into the Global Business Hall of Fame

Under Kathryn’s leadership, The Muse became one of the most trusted resources for career discovery, guidance, and employer connection, empowering millions of job seekers to find purpose-driven work that aligns with their skills and values.

Kathryn launched The Muse in 2011 to fill a gap she experienced firsthand: the lack of authentic, human-centered career advice and transparency in the job search process. By combining expert career content, personalized coaching, and inside looks at company cultures, The Muse helped over 75 million professionals navigate career transitions and inspired employers to embrace greater transparency and inclusion in recruitment.

Through her vision and persistence, Minshew transformed the conversation around career development, particularly for women and early-career professionals seeking meaningful work. Her leadership style emphasized empathy, adaptability, and long-term value over short-term gain.

She also championed diverse representation in both hiring and leadership, helping shape The Muse into a model for inclusive corporate culture. Minshew’s commitment to empowerment extended beyond her company—she became a sought-after voice on the future of work, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Kathryn Minshew has been recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. 35 Under 35, and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She has advised organizations including the World Economic Forum and Harvard Business School on leadership and workplace transformation.

Her influence continues to guide the evolving relationship between people and their work—redefining success in the modern economy not just as achievement, but as alignment between purpose and profession.

Embrace failure and be ready for it. It will happen at some point, so it just depends on what you do with it.
— Odunayo Eweniyi

A Global Force for Good

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Enter the Global Business Hall of Fame