The seventh-generation Zobel serves as chair of the country’s oldest conglomerate, Ayala Corp., whose businesses span banking, real estate, telecommunications, manufacturing, and energy.
“I am deeply honored to be included in Thinkers50’s inaugural Leaders50 list,” Zobel said in a social media post.
“This recognition belongs to the dedicated employees of the Ayala group, whose unwavering support and commitment enable us to build businesses that help people thrive,” he added.
Shared success
“I also share this achievement with our partners and stakeholders, who share our purpose and vision, working closely with us to foster communities and, ultimately, a country where more people can thrive,” Zobel said.
“Thank you for being part of this journey,” he added.
Unique qualification process
Thinkers50, conceived by business writers Des Dearlove and Stuart Crainer, debuted in 2001 as the first global ranking of management thinkers and remains the premier authority in its field.
“Working with a definition of leadership as inspiring purposeful action that achieves remarkable outcomes, a set of criteria was developed,” it said.
Leaders are evaluated across three core criteria: organizational impact, economic contribution, and social purpose.
Additional analysis considers character traits like role modeling, stakeholder satisfaction, and leadership style.
The final assessment focuses on future-oriented factors, including leadership development, organizational resilience, adaptability, and visionary impact.
Renowned and rising stars
Leaders50 highlights influential leaders from diverse sectors, including well-known figures like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Chanel’s Leena Nair, GM’s Mary Barra, and Delta Airlines’ Ed Bastian.
The list also features lesser-known leaders such as Shelley Zalis of the Female Quotient, Etienne Salborn of Uganda’s Social Innovation Academy, Melanie Perkins of Canva, and Asheesh Advani of Junior Achievement Worldwide.
Representing over 20 countries, the largest group comes from the United States, with many being first- or second-generation immigrants like Tarang Amin (e.l.f. Beauty), Aicha Evans (Zoox), Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), and Hamdi Ulukaya (Chobani). Leaders50 also celebrates African leaders like Patricia Obo-Nai in Ghana and Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli in Nigeria.
Asian leaders, including Jaehoon Chang from South Korea and Nand Kishore Chaudhary from India, are also honored.
