December 12

Henry Wells was born in 1805 in Thetford, Vermont, and began his career as a freight agent in New York City. In 1850, he partnered with William G. Fargo and others to establish American Express, innovating express mail and financial services. Two years later, he co-founded Wells Fargo & Company to serve the California Gold Rush market with banking, stagecoach, and shipping operations. Wells championed reliable, fast communication across vast distances and helped standardize express tariffs. As president of both companies, he oversaw their expansion into global networks of financial and transportation services. His vision transformed American commerce and facilitated Westward expansion. Wells died in 1878, leaving an enduring impact on the logistics and banking industries.

Walter Benona Sharp was born in 1870 in the United States. In 1909, he partnered with Howard Hughes Sr. to create the Hughes Tool Company, which became renowned for its high-performance rotary drill bit. Under Sharp's leadership, the company expanded its operations across major oil fields, boosting efficiency in drilling practices. His innovations contributed to the growth of the American oil industry in the early 20th century. Although Sharp's career was cut short by his death in 1912, his legacy endured through the company's continued success and influence in energy technology.

Robert Noyce was born in 1927 in Burlington, Iowa, and earned his doctorate in physics from MIT. In 1959, alongside Jack Kilby, he co-invented the monolithic integrated circuit, a milestone that sparked the microelectronics revolution. Noyce co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor and later Intel Corporation, where he served as CEO and helped shape the modern computing industry. Nicknamed the "Mayor of Silicon Valley", he championed a collaborative culture and open innovation. Under his leadership, Intel introduced the first commercially successful microprocessor in 1971. He received numerous honors, including the National Medal of Science and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Noyce's vision and inventions laid the foundation for today's digital world before his passing in 1990.

Marc Ravalomanana is a Malagasy businessman-turned-politician who founded the dairy company TIKO, transforming Madagascar’s dairy industry. He entered politics in 1999 and was elected Mayor of Antananarivo before becoming President in 2002. During his presidency, Ravalomanana pursued economic reforms, infrastructure development, and efforts to modernize agriculture. He faced political opposition and was forced into exile in 2009 following a popular uprising. Ravalomanana remains an influential figure in Malagasy politics and has attempted several comebacks. His tenure is noted for both his entrepreneurial vision and the controversies that led to his ousting.