August 05

Soichiro Honda transformed the automotive and motorcycle industries by founding Honda Motor Company in 1948. He championed lightweight engine design and created reliable, high-performance vehicles that revolutionized post-war transportation. Honda was passionate about racing, using motorsports to test and improve his designs on the track. Under his guidance, Honda became the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and a leading global automaker. His vision for innovation and quality set new standards in engineering and industry worldwide.

Born in 1948, Skase began his career in the mining industry and soon ventured into property development. He founded Qintex, which acquired television networks and film studios, including an ambitious bid for MGM in the late 1980s. Despite rapid growth, Qintex faced mounting debt and entered administration in 1989, marking one of Australia's largest corporate collapses. Fleeing to Spain to avoid extradition, Skase lived out his final years embroiled in legal disputes over creditor claims. He died in 2001, leaving behind a cautionary tale of ambition, risk, and the volatility of the global media market.

Born in Russia in 1916, Martin E. Segal emigrated to the United States and built a successful career in finance and real estate. In 1969, he co-founded the Film Society of Lincoln Center, serving as its inaugural president and shaping the New York Film Festival. Under his leadership, the society became a vital platform for international cinema in America. Segal was a generous patron of the arts, supporting theaters, museums, and educational programs nationwide. He also established the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at CUNY, fostering interdisciplinary performing arts research. His visionary contributions left an enduring legacy in both business and cultural philanthropy.