1Alex OsterwalderThe Business Model Canvas; Strategyzerinnovation expertsSwitzerland
Creator of the Business Model Canvas and co-founder of Strategyzer, Alex Osterwalder is one of the most influential thinkers on business-model innovation.
2Rita McGrathDiscovery-driven growth and inflection pointsinnovation expertsUS
A Columbia Business School professor, Rita McGrath is known for discovery-driven growth and for helping leaders see strategic inflection points early.
3Roger L. MartinIntegrative thinking and strategyinnovation expertsCanada
A strategy thinker and former dean of the Rotman School, Roger Martin is known for integrative thinking and a distinctive approach to strategy.
4W. Chan Kim and Renee MauborgneBlue Ocean Strategy; INSEADinnovation expertsSouth Korea / France
INSEAD professors and co-authors of Blue Ocean Strategy, they reshaped how organisations think about creating uncontested market space.
5Vijay GovindarajanReverse innovationinnovation expertsIndia / US
A Dartmouth professor, Vijay Govindarajan is known for the concept of reverse innovation and for work on innovation in large organisations.
6Navi RadjouFrugal and jugaad innovation; Thinkers50innovation expertsIndia / US
A Thinkers50-ranked innovation advisor, Navi Radjou is a leading voice on frugal and jugaad innovation, doing more with less.
7Jaideep PrabhuFrugal innovation; Cambridge Judgeinnovation expertsIndia / UK
A Cambridge Judge Business School professor, Jaideep Prabhu is a leading scholar of frugal innovation and enterprise in emerging markets.
8Edward TseChina strategy and disruptors; Gao Feng Advisoryinnovation expertsChina
Founder of Gao Feng Advisory, Edward Tse is a leading strategist on Chinese business and the wave of disruptors emerging from China.
9Scott D. AnthonyDisruptive-innovation practiceinnovation expertsUS / Singapore
An author and practitioner formerly with Innosight, Scott Anthony is known for applying disruptive-innovation theory inside large companies.
10Greg SatellChange and innovationinnovation expertsUS
An author and speaker, Greg Satell writes on innovation and how transformational change actually happens.
11Frederik PferdtInnovation mindset; former Googleinnovation expertsGermany / US
Formerly Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google, Frederik Pferdt teaches an innovation and future-ready mindset.
12Natalie NixonCreativity strategyinnovation expertsUS
A creativity strategist and author, Natalie Nixon helps organisations combine wonder and rigour to drive innovation.
13Bright SimonsFrontier innovation; mPedigreeinnovation expertsGhana
A Ghanaian innovator and founder of mPedigree, Bright Simons is known for frontier technology that tackles counterfeiting and supply-chain trust, and writes widely on innovation and development.
14Ndidi NwuneliSocial innovation in Africa; LEAP Africainnovation expertsNigeria
A Nigerian social entrepreneur and author, Ndidi Nwuneli is a leading voice on social innovation and enterprise in Africa.
15Eric RiesThe Lean Startup methodologyinnovation expertsUS
The Lean Startup methodology
Nominations for the 2027 edition are open.
Know an innovation expert who genuinely leads the field? Put them forward for next year's ranking. Anyone can be nominated, including yourself, and every nomination is judged by the panel against the same published criteria.
Nominate an innovation expert for 2027