Veronica Barassi campaigns and writes about the impact of data technologies and artificial intelligence on human rights and democracy.

Alexis Ohanian is the co-founder an executive chairman of Reddit, a social-voting news website with geek allegiances, a small-town feel and a penchant for lighting up the memes your friends IM you about next week.

The president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, Jimmy Carter has used his post-presidency years to work for peace, teach, write and engage in global activism.

As President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio seeks to find ways to make progress happen -- not to dwell on the obstacles that impede it.

Daniel Suarez concocts thrilling reads from terrifying (and not-so-farfetched) near-future scenarios.

Nandan Nilekani is the author of "Imagining India," a radical re-thinking of one of the world’s great economies. The co-founder of Infosys, he helped move India into the age of IT.

Two decades after transforming a struggling equipment supplier into a radically democratic and resilient (and successful) company, Ricardo Semler wants organizations to become wise.

A Louisiana native, Colette Pichon Battle fights to advance human rights for communities on the frontline of the struggle against climate change.

Maajid Nawaz works to promote conversation, tolerance and democracy in Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

Rachel Kleinfeld advises governments, philanthropists and activists on how democracies can make major social change -- even in distressed circumstances.

Alessandra Orofino founded Meu Rio, Rio de Janeiro’s largest mobilization network.

At the Center for Tech and Civic Life, Tiana Epps-Johnson works to make the US election system more modern, inclusive and secure.

By using citizen journalism platforms, Meera Vijayann explores creative ways that young women can participate in politics and community matters.

As the founder and executive director of The Human Utility, Tiffani Ashley Bell believes in the power of code and technology to positively impact people's lives.

Jarreth Merz' new film, "An African Election," follows the 2008 presidential elections in Ghana from start to finish.

Strategist, technologist and policy expert Katherine Maher is an advocate for free and open societies.

James Flynn challenges our fundamental assumptions about intelligence.

Daily Beast columnist and co-host of the "Democracy-ish" podcast, recovering attorney, playwright, author and exhausted dad Wajahat Ali celebrates the diverse narratives of the United States and advocates for a more inclusive cultural landscape.

Since leaving office as US Secretary of State in 2001, Madeleine Albright has continued her distinguished career in foreign affairs as a businesswoman, political adviser and professor.

Award-winning journalist and author, Will Potter focuses on the animal rights and environmental movements, and civil liberties in the post-9/11 era.

Ilona Szabó de Carvalho designs solutions for some of the world's biggest challenges -- from reducing violence and reforming drug laws to renewing democracy and fighting polarization.

Former Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow tackles the unintended effects of technology on those already impacted by discrimination and disadvantage.

A venture capitalist and political scientist, Eric X Li argues that the universality claim of Western democratic systems is going to be "morally challenged" by China.

María Teresa Kumar is the President and CEO of Voto Latino, a nonprofit organization committed to shaking up the American political process.

In Elizabeth Pisani's latest book, she explores the "improbable nation" of Indonesia.

Deepa Narayan is an international advisor on poverty, gender and development with more than 25 years of experience working at the World Bank, the UN and NGOs.

Rebecca MacKinnon looks at issues of free expression, governance and democracy (or lack of) in the digital networks, platforms and services on which we are all more and more dependent.

Yasheng Huang asks us to rethink our ideas about China and other large emerging economies. Lately he’s been asking, Does democracy hinder or promote economic growth?

Jarrell Daniels brings policy makers together with community members to improve social challenges, particularly among youth.

Dr. Leana Wen is Baltimore City's Health Commissioner.