Top CEOs to Watch in 2025

Great CEOs don’t just run companies — they inspire teams, redefine industries, and create opportunities. The leaders on this list stand out for their vision, resilience, and commitment to people, whether it’s employees, customers, or the next generation of talent.

From healthcare to logistics, fintech to education, these 33 leaders are proving that innovation thrives when you put people first. Here’s who to watch in 2025 — and why they’re changing the game.

Full list:

33 Top CEOs in 2025

Bhushan Kulkarni – InfoReady Corp  

Bhushan Kulkarni is a serial entrepreneur — he has founded multiple successful companies. He has a background in IT consulting, SaaS, and cybersecurity, and is an active member of the Michigan business community. He’s known as someone who can organize, launch, fund, and scale technology projects. His current venture, InfoReady, streamlines research administration solutions for higher education — it’s trusted by 65% of top U.S. research institutions. Bhushan’s leadership is rooted in transparency and trust and has helped the company grow steadily through market disruptions. As the higher education landscape faces unexpected shifts, Bhushan remains a steady force, guiding InfoReady to embrace change and drive even greater impact in research administration.

John Shafaee – Medtelligent  

Medtelligent’s ALIS software simplifies senior living operations, care management, and compliance. CEO John Shafaee built this mission-driven company over a decade ago to help provide the best care outcomes for seniors, earning Medtelligent a loyal following. With a background in software development and an entrepreneurial spirit, John leads with integrity and a deep commitment to redefining assisted living. Employees praise Medtelligent’s culture of respect and purpose, which reflects his leadership values. His focus on people-first innovation ensures that ALIS continues to evolve, making senior living communities better places to work and live.

Will Snyder – Metopio  

Metopio transforms complex healthcare data into actionable insights to improve health equity. CEO Will Snyder’s expertise in healthcare policy and data analytics has made Metopio a trusted partner for top healthcare organizations. His leadership fosters a collaborative and mission-driven team focused on solving real-world health challenges. With a background in public policy and digital strategy, Will simplifies complex issues into innovative solutions. Under his guidance, Metopio has rapidly gained industry recognition, helping organizations drive meaningful change in community health and patient outcomes.

Audrey Wystrach – Petfolk

Veterinarian, entrepreneur, and healthcare disruptor, Dr. Audrey Wystrach is reinventing pet care through Petfolk, a hybrid model that fuses digital innovation with in-person clinical excellence. With over 25 years of experience spanning rural practice to corporate operations, she brings a holistic vision to veterinary services. Under her leadership, Petfolk creates tech-forward, beautifully designed care experiences that connect pet parents with practitioners like never before. Audrey’s mission is clear: to elevate the standard of pet care by uniting modern platforms with gold-standard medicine. Her approach is transforming how veterinary care is accessed, delivered, and experienced.

Max Brickman – Heartland Ventures  

Heartland Ventures connects Midwestern businesses with cutting-edge coastal startups, bridging the gap between innovation and industry needs. Founder and Managing Partner Max Brickman has built a venture capital firm unlike any other, leveraging a network of 800+ industrial operators to introduce transformative technologies to the Heartland. With a keen eye for emerging trends, Max ensures that traditional industries remain competitive in a tech-driven world. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, he has fostered a thriving investment ecosystem that brings strategic growth opportunities to underrepresented regions.

Hunter Croft – ACT 

ACT (Advanced Call Center Technologies), is a global leader in customer care, is a 100% employee-owned business. This is in part because CEO Hunter Croft champions a culture of transparency, ownership, and excellence, earning ACT recognition as a "Most Loved Workplace." His servant leadership philosophy prioritizes employee engagement, resulting in high job satisfaction and superior customer service. Under his guidance, ACT has expanded its global footprint while maintaining a strong commitment to workplace culture. Hunter’s ability to align business success with employee well-being makes him a leader to watch in 2025.

Tom Fleming - AIM Transportation Solutions

Transportation runs in the family, and Tom Fleming, Chairman and CEO of Aim Transportation Solutions, is a third-generation member of the transportation community. Growing the business steadily over the last four decades into a national operation, Tom has proven that strong and steady leadership demonstrates its value in how it takes care of its customers, communities, and, of course, its employees.

Anthony McIntosh – UpRys

Anthony McIntosh is the founder and president of UpRys, a strategic consultancy helping nonprofits and small-to-midsize businesses operate with greater clarity, efficiency, and impact. Under his leadership, UpRys has grown from a startup into a Columbus Business First’s Fast 50 honoree, earning recognition for its community-first approach and scalable business solutions.

With over 25 years of experience in business leadership and strategy, Anthony brings a rare blend of corporate know-how and mission-driven insight to every engagement. His career has spanned Fortune 500s, growth-stage companies, and the nonprofit sector. Anthony founded UpRys based on a simple belief: when organizations are empowered with the right people, processes, and tools, they can focus on what matters most — their mission. Outside of his work at UpRys, Anthony is an active community leader. He serves as Vice President of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of the Columbus Metropolitan Club. His commitment to service is reflected not only in his work but in the way he leads — with clarity, compassion, and a deep investment in sustainable, purpose-driven growth.

James R. Scapa – Altair

James R. Scapa founded Altair in 1985 with a vision to revolutionize simulation, high-performance computing, and AI. Nearly 40 years later, Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR) is a global leader, empowering 13,000+ customers across industries to innovate and compete. Altair’s technology drives smarter, safer, and more sustainable solutions — found in everything from cars and skyscrapers to hospitals and space missions. A visionary leader, James has shaped Altair’s culture around curiosity, collaboration, and risk-taking. He champions diversity, sustainability, and ethical AI, ensuring Altair stays ahead of technological frontiers. A Columbia University engineer with a Michigan MBA, he continues redefining what’s possible in an increasingly connected world.

Paul Ricci – Best Egg

Paul Ricci isn’t just leading Best Egg — he’s shaping the future of financial confidence. As CEO of the innovative fintech platform, Paul is on a mission to help people with limited savings take control of their financial lives. A founding leader of Best Egg, he’s been there since day one, playing a pivotal role in its rapid growth and award-winning company culture.

With over two decades of experience in financial services and direct-to-consumer marketing, he knows what it takes to build, scale, and innovate. Under Paul’s leadership, Best Egg continues to push boundaries, offering a growing suite of financial tools — including personal loans, credit cards, and flexible rent solutions — that give customers the confidence to navigate life’s financial challenges. Paul wants to make financial security accessible to more people, using smart technology and real-time customer insights to break down barriers.

Chase Lochmiller – Crusoe.ai

Chase Lochmiller is on a mission to make computing sustainable. As CEO of Crusoe, he’s turning stranded energy into a resource, powering AI infrastructure while dramatically cutting emissions. With a background in algorithmic trading at Jump and GETCO and degrees from MIT and Stanford, Chase brings unmatched technical and strategic depth. Under his leadership, Crusoe has raised over $600M and repurposed billions of cubic feet of flared gas, reducing methane at a massive scale. Chase blends climate impact with computational power, making him one of the most exciting leaders at the intersection of energy and AI.

Ben Madick – Matic

Ben Madick is transforming insurance from a friction-filled necessity into a seamless, digital-first experience. As CEO and co-founder of Matic, he has built one of the fastest-growing insurance marketplaces, partnering with 40+ A-rated carriers and major players in mortgage, banking, and real estate. Known for his transparency, empathy, and hands-on leadership, Ben reads every new hire’s onboarding form and builds culture from the inside out. With deep roots in mortgage compliance and financial services, he brings clarity to complex systems. At Matic, Ben is reshaping how consumers protect their homes — one embedded insurance solution at a time.

Sujata Varma – Diverse Lynx

Sujata Varma’s leadership is defined by vision, empathy, and fearless innovation. As co-founder and CEO of Diverse Lynx, she has spent over two decades turning IT services into people-first solutions, earning a 92/100 employee score and a reputation as one of the most respected leaders in the space. With a career that began in 1993, she has scaled Diverse Lynx into a global workforce powerhouse by nurturing talent, listening deeply, and fostering a culture of bold experimentation. Sujata doesn’t just deliver tech solutions — she builds teams where every voice matters and every challenge is met with heart and strategy.

Tom Finegan – Clarkston Consulting

As the Chairman and CEO of Clarkston Consulting, Tom Finegan has shaped the firm’s vision and growth strategy since co-founding the company nearly 30 years ago. An entrepreneurial veteran, leadership expert, and trusted advisor, Tom is known for building purpose-driven businesses that prioritize both client outcomes and employee fulfillment. Under Tom’s leadership, Clarkston has become a leader in life sciences and consumer products consulting. He is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Amplifiers, a guide to developing influential leaders who drive organizational impact from every level.

Winning numerous awards for leadership, including a two-time finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and a 40 Under 40 Leader, Tom is recognized for bringing transformative strategies to both Fortune 500 companies and emerging startups.

Rami Elghandour – Arcellx

Rami Elghandour is a serial biotech innovator reshaping cell therapy and cancer treatment. As CEO of Arcellx, he’s raised over $900M and secured a pivotal partnership with Gilead, transforming the company into a leader in multiple myeloma. Previously, he led Nevro through explosive growth, raising $700M and scaling revenue to $320M. Rami brings a rare mix of engineering rigor, investor savvy, and humanitarian drive to everything he builds. Recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and a top CEO for diversity, his influence spans business, biotech, and beyond. Rami isn’t just leading biotech — he’s redefining what visionary leadership looks like.

Leslie Snavely – CHG Healthcare

From finance to marketing to digital transformation, Leslie Snavely has worn every hat on her way to the top. Now CEO of CHG Healthcare, the country’s largest physician staffing company, she’s on a mission to blend tech-driven growth with CHG’s signature people-first culture. A former exec at P&G and Pepsi, Leslie knows how to scale strategy without losing soul. Her leadership style? Grounded in purpose, fueled by empathy, and laser-focused on impact. She’s a believer in inclusion, a champion for women, and a steady force helping healthcare heroes do what they do best — care for patients.

Nobuyuki Ashida – MISUMI USA

Named “Best CEO” for multiple years by Comparably, Nobuyuki Ashida isn’t just leading MISUMI USA — he’s transforming it into a powerhouse of innovation, diversity, and team spirit. Under his watch, MISUMI has become a go-to resource for engineers and designers who need custom factory automation parts fast. But what really sets him apart is his unwavering belief that great things happen when employees feel valued, heard, and included. Nobuyuki’s leadership shows up in every corner of the business, from buzzing warehouses to breakout product ideas. Quietly humble but fiercely committed, he’s building more than a company — he’s building a culture that wins.

Robbie Morrison – Velosio

When it comes to solving business challenges with technology, Robbie Morrison doesn’t just have experience — he has a legacy. With more than 30 years in the tech and consulting space, Robbie brings both depth and vision to his role as CEO of Velosio, a Microsoft Dynamics powerhouse he helped build from the ground up.

A systems architect by trade and an entrepreneur at heart, Robbie has been pioneering digital transformation since the early days of the internet. (He launched the first ISP in Northwest Georgia.) His ability to see what’s next and execute on it with precision has made him a standout leader in cloud solutions, Microsoft ecosystems, and business innovation. Whether he's shaping go-to-market strategy or mentoring the next generation of tech leaders, his approach remains the same: lead with clarity, build with purpose, and always put people first.

Ron Alvesteffer – Service Express

Ron Alvesteffer has spent more than 25 years growing Service Express from a small U.S. team of 15 into a global company with over 1,000 team members across the U.S., UK, and Canada. Under his leadership, the company has seen consistent double-digit revenue growth, scaling from $3 million to more than $350 million — it completed 11 strategic acquisitions to expand its international footprint. But if you ask Ron what he’s most proud of, it’s not just the growth numbers. It’s the people behind them.

At the heart of Service Express is a people-powered philosophy. Ron helped shape a performance-driven culture rooted in one of the company’s core values: to cultivate a culture of growth that empowers people to achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. That shared vision has created a ripple effect fueling employee achievement, inspiring opportunity, and leading to award-winning success. Ron’s commitment to culture has earned both personal and company-wide recognition, including one of Comparably’s Best CEOs, and helped earn Service Express a certified spot on Great Place to Work for eight years and counting.

Shaily Baranwal – Elevate K-12 

Shaily Baranwal doesn’t believe in doing things the “normal” way. A self-described nonconformist, she has built her career — and Elevate K-12 — by disrupting the status quo in education and creating space for others to rise with her. Her journey started in engineering, veered into teaching, and took a few entrepreneurial detours (like launching a chain of preschools and restaurants in India) before coming full circle with Elevate K-12. What started as a scrappy business school internship project in Ann Arbor has since grown into a nationally recognized, high-growth company solving one of education’s most urgent challenges: the teacher shortage. Shaily brought live synchronous instruction to schools in need of certified, high-quality teachers, no matter their zip code.

Today, Elevate K-12 is changing what’s possible in the classroom. After more than a decade as CEO, Shaily recently passed the baton to Elevate’s new chief executive — and stepped into a role that aligns even more closely with her purpose: Chief Learning Ambassador. She’s focused on expanding the LIVE teaching category, forging new partnerships with a new AI startup that will be announced soon. With her drive and vision, it’s no surprise she was recently named to Inc.’s 2025 Top Female Founders list, a recognition of her trailblazing work in the education space and her mission-driven approach to leadership.

Jeff Hauptman – Oxford Companies

Jeff Hauptman is the founder and CEO of Oxford Companies, a leading commercial real estate firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over the past 25+ years, Jeff has grown Oxford from a solo investment holding company into a multi-division, fully integrated real estate investment and services organization. A lifelong Ann Arbor resident, Jeff brings a deep understanding of urban development and a passion for community building to his work.

Under his leadership, Oxford has received numerous accolades, including Crain’s Cool Places to Work, Ann Arbor’s Best Landlord (Michigan Daily), and multiple FastTrack Awards from Ann Arbor SPARK. Jeff himself has been honored as Small Business Person of the Year by the A2Y Chamber, inducted into the Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame, and recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as both a Notable Real Estate Executive and a 40 Under 40 honoree. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ann Arbor SPARK, contributing to the region’s economic development and entrepreneurial growth. 

Mike Klein – Genomenon

Mike Klein is an accomplished technology executive with more than 25 years of experience launching, scaling, and transforming high-growth software and IT companies. As CEO of Genomenon, a genomics intelligence company leading the effort to curate the entire human genome, Mike combines visionary leadership with deep technical and financial expertise to accelerate the company’s mission: improving patient outcomes through genomics-driven insights. Under Mike’s direction, Genomenon has grown from a promising University of Michigan spinout into a leader in AI-powered genomics, enabling precision medicine through its flagship platform, Mastermind.

Known for building high-performance teams and driving revenue growth, Mike is a passionate communicator and sought-after public speaker. He thrives at the intersection of science, technology, and business, translating complex challenges into clear strategies that deliver results.

Luis von Ahn – Duolingo

Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Duolingo, has spent his career using technology to break down educational barriers. Born and raised in Guatemala, he experienced firsthand how access to quality learning was often reserved for the privileged few, especially when it came to learning English. That early disparity fueled his mission: to make high-quality education accessible to everyone, regardless of geography or income.

A MacArthur Fellow and the inventor of CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, Luis sold both innovations to Google before turning his focus to education. In 2011, he launched Duolingo with Severin Hacker, creating what would become the world’s most popular language-learning platform. With gamified lessons, bite-sized learning, and a freemium model, Duolingo has helped democratize language acquisition for millions across the globe. Under his leadership, Duolingo has also introduced Duolingo ABC, a free literacy app designed to combat early childhood illiteracy.

Dhruv Saxena – ShipBob

Dhruv Saxena didn’t just build ShipBob to solve a problem — he lived the problem first. After running a small ecommerce business with co-founder Divey Gulati, Saxena got tired of juggling packaging, post office lines, and shipping chaos. So, they did what most great founders do: validated the idea the scrappy way — by interviewing fellow shippers outside post offices (until they got kicked out).

That street-level research laid the groundwork for ShipBob, a cloud-based logistics and fulfillment platform used by 5,000+ small and medium-sized brands. Now valued at $1B+, ShipBob has made it possible for indie brands to scale shipping operations with the same efficiency as enterprise retailers and earned Dhruv awards like Entrepreneur of the Year. His north star is to build something people want. Everything else — pricing, product, go-to-market — follows.

Chris Smith – Slip Robotics

Chris Smith is rethinking how the world moves goods. As Founder and CEO of Slip Robotics, Smith is tackling a problem that's been largely unchanged for over a century: the slow, manual loading and unloading of freight. His solution—floor-like autonomous robots that can drive directly into trucks—has created a seismic shift in supply chain efficiency, boosting both speed and safety tenfold.

Before launching Slip in 2020, Chris built his expertise at companies like Tesla, where he led discrete-event factory simulation at the Gigafactory, and at Volley Automation, a robotics startup focused on automated car park systems. It was this combination of deep manufacturing experience and startup agility that sparked a groundbreaking idea: what if, instead of moving freight to the vehicle, the floor itself could move?

John Danaher – AMOpportunities

John Danaher, MD, MBA, is bringing bold leadership to the future of healthcare education. As CEO of AMOpportunities, Danaher is at the forefront of solving one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: clinical workforce shortages. By expanding access to hands-on clinical training for students around the world, he’s building a pipeline of future healthcare professionals — and transforming how hospitals staff and train at scale.

John’s leadership at AMO comes at a pivotal moment — the company is shifting from marketplace to workforce engine, working directly with schools and healthcare systems to offer turnkey rotation programs through a tech-enabled platform. As AMO scales, it is increasing access to U.S. clinical experiences for global learners while helping health systems address staffing gaps with ready-trained talent.

Kurt Roots – Bend Health

Kurt Roots is revolutionizing mental healthcare for kids, teens, and families. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Bend Health, he’s pioneering a new model of collaborative, tech-enabled care that’s bringing measurable results to families across the country. 

Under his leadership, Bend Health has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 for its groundbreaking programs, including the nation’s first Psych Urgent Care for youth and a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program supporting children and young adults in crisis. These offerings are closing critical gaps in care during a time when 71% of U.S. counties lack access to pediatric psychiatrists.

What sets Bend apart is its commitment to outcomes. In 2024 alone, over 75% of youth struggling with self-harm reported improvements in anxiety, while 80% saw reduced depression. Caregivers benefited too, with better sleep and less stress. Kurt’s unwavering commitment to technological innovation and patient-centric care has tangibly improved healthcare outcomes and efficiencies.

Jennifer Sherman – Federal Signal Corporation

Jennifer Sherman is a transformational force in American manufacturing. As President and CEO of Federal Signal Corporation, she has led the company through a decade of sustained growth and innovation, driving more than a 450% increase in shareholder value while positioning the century-old brand for long-term success. Her leadership was recognized with EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Midwest Award, honoring visionary executives who are creating bold change across industries.

With a career that began in corporate law, focused on litigation, bankruptcy, and M&A, Sherman brings a strategic and multidisciplinary mindset to her role. Federal Signal’s evolution under her leadership includes major advancements in both its Environmental Solutions and Safety & Security Systems groups, supporting municipal, government, and industrial customers worldwide. Her focus on sustainable growth, operational excellence, and smart innovation continues to elevate the company’s legacy.

Brian Helm – Helm Group

As CEO of Helm Group, Brian Helm is building more than infrastructure — he’s cultivating a workplace where people and innovation thrive. Under his leadership, the company has earned national recognition as a 2025 USA Today Top Workplace, a distinction based entirely on employee feedback and a testament to Helm’s people-first culture.

Brian began his journey at Helm the way many second-generation leaders do — by working summers in both the office and the field. He officially joined full-time in 1999 and quickly brought a rigorous engineering mindset to the family business. With the philosophy of “People Building Value” guiding every decision, Brian has transformed Helm Group into one of the most sought-after employers in the construction and engineering industry.

Vadim Vladimirskiy – Nerdio

Vadim Vladimirskiy doesn’t just embrace the future of IT — he builds it. As CEO and Founder of Nerdio, he’s on a mission to help organizations unlock the full potential of Microsoft cloud technologies with smarter, more cost-effective solutions. Under his leadership, Nerdio has become a leader in cloud optimization, empowering Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to scale with precision and performance.

A tech prodigy and business pioneer, Vadim fell in love with IT before he could drive and was consulting professionally by high school. In an era when cloud-based services were still a hard sell, Vadim doubled down on innovation, bootstrapping a bold vision that helped businesses trade server closets for virtual solutions. His instinct was right. A decade later, that vision became Nerdio—an award-winning cloud management platform that now powers some of the world’s most efficient enterprise IT environments.

Eric Martell – Pear Commerce

Eric Martell is on a mission to bring transparency and precision to the world of retail marketing. As CEO and Co-founder of Pear Commerce, he’s transforming the way consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands connect with customers, bridging the gap between digital ads and real-time retail purchases. Under Eric’s leadership, Pear empowers CPG marketers with the same clarity and efficiency that direct-to-consumer brands have long enjoyed, delivering real-time insights from click to cart.

Before launching Pear, Eric helped build one of the earliest and most successful online food ordering platforms: EatStreet. As a co-founder, he helped scale the company from a scrappy student startup to a national operation serving over 15,000 restaurants and millions of customers. In addition to his operational chops, Eric is a seasoned investor and startup mentor. He served as Managing Director of gener8tor Minnesota, one of the country’s top-ranked accelerators, and continues to invest in and support early-stage companies as a Venture Partner at gener8tor. At the core of all Eric’s ventures is a belief in data, clarity, and building better systems — whether that’s for ordering a late-night pizza or making every CPG marketing dollar work harder.

Katie Hall – Claira

Katie Hall is the founder and CEO of Claira, an AI-powered talent assistant redefining how companies understand and manage human potential. Built on competencies — not credentials — Claira helps organizations uncover what people can actually do, not just what’s written on a resume, for faster hiring, greater efficiency, and a more equitable workforce.

Katie’s path to founding Claira wasn’t traditional. Before launching her startup, she worked across a wide range of industries and roles, from cleaning hotel rooms to assembling windows on a factory line. She later spent a decade advising organizations on how to prepare for the future of work, including roles in state and federal government and nonprofits focused on economic development. Along the way, she saw how broken and biased the existing hiring system was — and decided to do something about it. In 202, she launched Claira to offer workforce insights that help companies move faster, cut costs, and widen the talent pool. For Katie, this is about more than efficiency — it’s about access. With nearly half of the U.S. population lacking a college degree, Claira helps make the labor market more inclusive by moving beyond proxies like education and pedigree.

Monty Ragland – PSI

Monty Ragland is the President and CEO of PSI (Proteam Solutions Inc.), an IT staff augmentation and consulting firm supporting the organizations and institutions shaping a stronger central Ohio. Monty began his career in human resources and quickly rose through the ranks of the staffing and IT consulting world. He’s spent decades refining what it means to connect organizations with the right talent at the right time. Since joining PSI in 2015, he’s helped transform the company into a trusted partner for both public and private sector clients, delivering solutions with speed, precision, and purpose.

A proud Columbus native and Howard University alum, Monty believes deeply in giving back to the community that shaped him. He sees talent as a powerful engine for opportunity and progress, and is driven by the belief that when people are supported and empowered, the entire region thrives.