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Edge Upstarts Poll

We want to know who is the most inspirational business leader, let us know who you want to vote for and your comments about them.

This poll has now closed.

Who is your most inspirational business leader?

Winner

Dale Vince CEO Ecotricity

To read Dale's reaction to this and his thoughts on Social Enterprise read the New Statesman interview.

He has re-engineered the business model to drive more and more money into renewable technology and has done so without losing sight of genuine human principles or a really gutsy ambition to tackle climate change. He's beyond the arguement.
Robin Smith
He is a super charged wonder hero of green power and proficiency - leading GB to the change we need. He is also a really nice guy. Who is he? The founder of ecotricity and the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK.
Miranda Davis
He is the founder of ecotricity and the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK. Nice bloke too.
Ciaran Griffin
Ecotricity. He made Richard Branson wake up and smell the coffee. If the rest of us answer the call with the full breakfast, we may be getting somewhere...
Julian Thomas
Committed to and passionate about renewable energy and driving forward attitude change and sustainable technology.
Ian Agnew
He means it
James Rose
The founder of ecotricity and the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK.
Rosamund Elwes
From a caravan in a field to creating the worlds first green energy company to now building one of the most exciting brands in the UK - voted one of the worlds top 100 eco heroes - he will be the richard branson of the green revolution - but he has actually has more style and charisma - and he s a really genuine good guy!
Chris Wintle
Doing great things for the enviroment
Rob Croydon
A desire to change the world for the better (or stop the change depending on your perspective) and the ability to accomplish it - an innovator in green technology with true altruistic ambition.
Kirk Pickering
I think what Ecotricity is doing is ambitious and important
Steve Keyworth
He is the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK.
Amber Finlayson
The founder of ecotricity and the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK. Nice bloke too
Penny Nagle
A great ecological entrepeneur
harry lyon-smith
Real green energy and a plan for the future.
Karen Martin
Dales is the biggest builder of new green energy in the world
Bruce McKinnon
As the founder of Ecotricity the only renewable energy company investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK - he is a true green Leader - he is straight talking which is inspiring in an age when corporate political correctness is blocking true progress towards a positive future. He is not afraid to have a challenging debate because he knows his subject and sees challenges as positive as it creates and increases debate necessary to move this sector forward towards sustainable energy supply in the UK. You go Dale!
Bronwen Reinhardt
He has devoted huge amounts of time to the cause, and conducts himself perfectly. He has a real passion to do something for the planet
Jacob Windsor
started a very genuine company investing all profits into producing green energy
Nicholas King
The founder of ecotricity and the only person investing every penny of income into new green energy build in the UK.
Nicki Workman Dale is at the forefront of greening the business world!
Adam Van Coevorden
Because he belives in what he does and wants to help combat climate change against all odds
Peter Berry
Dale truly believes in what he is doing, his determination and tenacious attitude are unequalled. His methods, flawless.
Sam Vince
Audacious, gutsy, he had the forsight and courage of conviction to stick his neck out about climate change when most were denying it's existence. The last ten years he's forced people to take their heads out of the sand and face up to the facts - whilst at the same time offering a solution. Keep up the good work!
Madeline Carroll
Carrie Humphreys
Mr. Vince set up and continues to lead by example a pioneering alternate energy concern, The Renewable Energy Company, which not only manufactures but puts all the income from the sale of electricty (mirroring the charges of the local 'big boys' so consumers pay what they already were) into further R&D Even his employess are expected to tow the line and be as green as possible in their offices and works.
Tom Faulkner
Clare Johnson
He is the future. The future is green
kiki kendrick
He's the founder of Ecotricity, the only UK company investing every penny of income into new green energy build.
Lynette Partington
He is a true inspiration
Gareth Kane
Combatting Man's negative effect on the environment is THE MOST important issue of this generation and Dale Vince has fully embraced this
J L
He is an idealist, making things happen
James Rose
If you look "inspirational" up in the dictionary, I'm sure you'll find "Dale Vince" as the true meaning of the word..... His time has come!
Rita Hamill

Comments

The Right Hon Hazel Blears MP
Words could never fully describe this inspirational dedicated leader, proof how a visionary leader in the business of politics, touching on all our lives and communities makes a difference. With top responsibility and experience at The Home Office, The Health Service and Cabinet Office we can but admire her Inspiration, Vision, Compassion and Determination to make sure every citizen in our society is involved in shaping their future. Living in a fast changing world, we still see women under-represented in the many board-rooms, this makes it essential for us to honour those who sacrifice private life to make a better world for others. Hazel Blears is much more than an MP as those words help explain and here we have an important opportunity to honour and recognise her tremendous success and leading example on equality.
Trevor Burchick
Hazel Blears, what a great leader. We should take a moment to think what it must be like to be at the top of one's profession. Think how Hazel Blears has to deal with those all around her, daily, from press to potitics. Oh Yes, Top Marks Hazel, what an inspiration.
Michael James Felse F.S.S.E.

Richard Branson
Straight talk, willing to get his hands dirty, charisma, vision plus the guts to get things done.
Robin T Cox
He came from nothing to be a empire mogul with hands in everything thing from the air to underground & runs his businesses like a family not like a slave trader
Anonymous

Tim Campbell
He could have stayed with Amstrad for several years but instead has decided to establish his own male grooming business and a social enterprise trust. This sort of behaviour makes a huge difference to the economy and a marked difference to our usually risk adverse society.
Richard Morris

Tim Campbell's new venture The Bright Ideas Trust looks set to make Britain a haven for entrepreneurs. The Trust has a fantastic business model (established business will pay for start-up enterprise) through their CSR agenda and it won't cost anything if done through Gift Aid. He has tremendous vision and is a wonderful business icon to Afro-Caribbean kids. As well as this he's given up a very cushy job with Amstrad to do his bit for society.
Terry Marrs

Sam Conniff
In Sam's world there are no problems only challenges. He is one of the finest creative thinkers, bring a fresh angle and approach to every job, tender and task. He is also on of the best public speakers I know and makes presenting ideas and concepts seem fun, exciting and effortless. He inspires me to up my game every day and work my little socks off.
Mark Gurney

Chantal Cooke
Chantal Cooke is the business leader that inspires me the most. She walks her talk, she puts her money where her mouth is and has built a successful business around inspiring and helping others to live a green and healthy life.Chantal Cooke co-founded Passion for the Planet. Passion for the Planet is a group of DAB radio stations and they were set up specifically to be a green business and to help others to be green.
Eva-Maria Mansell

Ben Drury, Stentorian
Ben Drury is an inspirational trainer who motivates and encourages ordinary people to follow their dreams. Ben really cares, not only about individuals, but about the society in which they operate and about the effect their actions have on others. Having achieved his own personal success he is devoted to passing on the secrets of his success to others through his dream toolkit. Ben is a social entrepreneur in the true sense of the word and the world is a better place because of him.
Mary Pearson

Steve Guest
He is recruiting for a project that will help the UK overcome its energy crisis.
Eddie Johnson

Justin King, Sainsburys
Turnied a huge sleeping giant retail business into a hugely profiatbale business. Has developed corporate responsibility to considerable new heights making sainsburys a world brand leader.
Trevor Lynn

John Le Corney
This is someone who takes enormous risks with his organisation by putting the beneficiaries first. He could do with more business skills but if he applied them he would be a poorer social entrepreneur.
David

Andrew Mawson, Community Action Network
An inspiration, as a public speaker and through his actions.
Andrew Mawson, at Bromley, The Community Action Network and Unltd delivers through action not just talking, but when people hear him speak about the people he has worked with they are inspired to duplicate.
Bil McCallum

Sheetal Mehta, Innovative Social Ventures
Sheetal is an incredible inspiration to us. She manages to combine business with social issues without compromising either parties interest. She is also a fantastic female role model.
Elinor Olisa

Narayan Murthy, Infosys
He embodies entrepreneurial boldness, fairness to employees, and established a meritocracy, leading by his own example and distributing the wealth created in his own first-rate company widely.
Joe Cleetus
After the Gujarat riots of 2002, he was among the few prominent CEOs in India to speak out against communal riots in India, and criticized the state government for not doing enough to protect the victims of the riots, which killed over 900 people. And, of course, for creating a world class meritocratic company in India, rebranding India as the poster-child of globalization, and not of poverty.
S T

Ken Olisa, Restoration Partners
Ken has provided our company with unbelievable amounts of advice and encouragment.
Isobel Beauchamp

Gordon Ramsey
Mostly due to watching Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. He always manages to sort out the struggling businesses and I love his 'tough love' style. And a successful businessman in his own right.
Dan McNamara

Anita Roddick
Anita Roddick, who managed to convince the whole world of the benefits of natural products, and built an empire on organic products never tested on animals, and then sold out for a huge profit, giving money to charities.
Swatantra Nandanwar

Ricardo Semler
Because he has created an incredible approach to running a business, based on people. Based on trust and freedom. It is how all companies should be run, especially social enterprises.
Henry Stewart

Lord Terry Thomas of Macclesfield
He showed how ethical business could also be profitable and rescued the whole of the Co-operative Movement in the process.
Erik Bichard

Paul Williams
Someone who has taken his personal values and rolled them out into his businesses - most especially MLS Group plc. He and his son were recently featured in a Channel 4 docu-drama called "Secret Millionaire". Paul's heart for the poor and downtrodden is genuine and inspirational. His generosity for creating wealth in all aspects of life (that's not just about £riches) for all those who come into contact with him is enormous. He is also a member of Crime Concern and sits on the boards of numerous charities. He is a fabulous guy, with a zest for life and a strong faith in God.
Wayne Freeman

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