November 05

Alphonse Desjardins was born in 1854 in Lévis, Quebec and began his career as a newspaper writer. Alarmed by the lack of credit available to farmers and workers, he founded the first caisse populaire in 1900. His cooperative model emphasized mutual aid and community governance, laying the foundation for today's Desjardins Group. Under his leadership, the movement expanded rapidly, helping thousands of Canadians access loans and financial services. His vision transformed the credit union movement and inspired similar cooperatives worldwide. He passed away in 1920, leaving a lasting impact on cooperative finance and community development.

Kris Jenner is an American talent manager and entrepreneur who has guided the careers of her children into global stardom. She founded Jenner Communications to manage talent and branding opportunities for the Kardashian-Jenner family. Under her leadership, she has launched successful ventures in beauty, fashion, and television production. She plays a central role in the reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. Jenner has built a media empire and is recognized as one of the most influential figures in entertainment and branding.

Born in 1962, Turid Birkeland was a prominent figure in Norwegian politics and business. She served as Norway’s Minister of Culture from 1996 to 1997, promoting national arts initiatives and supporting film and music industries. After leaving politics, Birkeland held leadership roles in cultural organizations and chaired the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. She was also involved in corporate marketing and strategic consulting. Birkeland’s career bridged the public and private sectors, and she was recognized for her efforts to internationalize Norwegian culture. She passed away in 2015, remembered for her dynamic leadership and advocacy for the arts.

Ricardo Fort was an Argentinian actor, director, and businessman who gained fame as the heir to a chocolate manufacturing fortune. He leveraged his inheritance to produce musicals and star in television reality shows, becoming a fixture of Argentine pop culture. Fort was celebrated for his extravagant lifestyle, fashion sense, and outspoken personality. He directed several stage productions and appeared in film and television, showcasing his diverse talents. His unexpected death in 2013 shocked fans and left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry in Argentina.

Andrei Korobeinik launched Rate.ee, a pioneering social networking site in Estonia that attracted hundreds of thousands of users. He later co-founded other tech ventures and became a prominent figure in the Baltic startup scene. Combining his tech savvy with civic engagement, he was elected to the Estonian Parliament in 2007. Korobeinik championed digital innovation and e-governance during his term, influencing national tech policy. He continues to invest in early-stage startups and advises on emerging technologies in Europe.

Leah Culver earned recognition for her work on internet protocols such as OAuth and microformats. She co-founded Pownce in 2007, a social messaging site later acquired by Six Apart. Culver served as developer advocate at Convore and contributed to open-source projects on GitHub. Her writing and talks on startup development and API design have influenced the tech community. She has since worked with companies like Dropbox and has been a mentor for women in technology.