Albert Bourla
Pfizer chairman and CEO
Born and raised in Thessaloniki to parents who survived the Holocaust, Albert Bourla immigrated to the U.S. in 2001 and took the helm of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer in 2019. A veterinarian by training, he fostered a culture of innovation that sparked the company’s breakthrough delivery of a safe and effective Covid 19 vaccine in just eight months. A year later, working at the same lightspeed, Pfizer delivered the first FDA-authorized oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Margaret Atwood
World-renowned writer
Prolific and versatile, Margaret Atwood is best known for her novel The Handmaid’s Tale. She resists labels and works across genres with 60 books including novels, poetry, short story collections, and children’s literature. Her fiction imagines dystopian visions of societies riddled with misogyny, oppression and environmental havoc. She is the winner of two Booker prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke and many other awards.
James E. Ryan
President of the University of Virginia
In 2018, James Ryan, a leading expert on law and education, became the ninth president of the 204-year-old university founded by Thomas Jefferson. A legal scholar and former law professor — and an avid runner often seen running with students on campus — he rapidly launched UVA toward a new future, raising more than $4 billion in philanthropy.
John Calamos
Founder, Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer
The son of Greek immigrants, John Calamos is well known for creating innovative products designed to manage risk for clients in volatile times. He is also known as an active philanthropist supporting educational institutions and Hellenic organizations, including the National Hellenic Museum. He is a decorated United States Air Force veteran honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, an author and a sought-after financial markets news commentator.