TIME Technology

These Are the 10 Most Influential Leaders in Tech Right Now

Based on criteria including vision, innovation and personal capital

When it comes to power in the tech industry, who rules the roost?

Tesla’s Elon Musk, Uber’s Travis Kalanick and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos all make the cut, placing in Juniper Research’s ranking of the top 10 most influential tech executives, as did Jony Ive. Apple’s chief design officer and the mastermind behind the Apple Watch nabbed the second position, placing behind a single man: Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

Coverage of influence and innovation in the tech industry tends to overlook Microsoft in favor of flashy developments from tech heavyweights such as Apple and Google or disruptive models exemplified by newcomers like as Uber and Snapchat. But when looking at the company’s CEO, market research firm Juniper Research saw a figure of outsized influence, noting that Nadella’s implementation of ‘Windows-as-a-Service’ represented a fundamental change to Microsoft’s OS-focused business model.

[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]
[video id=7tR8wjZV]

Besides Ive, who else gave Nadella a run for his money? Here are Juniper Research’s top 10 most influential tech executives currently shaping the industry, based on criteria including vision, innovation and personal capital.

10. Lei Jun

10. Lei Jun

Position: Xiaomi co-founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 10: As the co-founder of the third largest smartphone distributer, Lei rose to prominence by designing high-quality smartphones while keeping margins low. In recent years, he has overseen the company as it has developed a range of new products, including a wearable device, a tablet and a smart TV.

9. Elon Musk

9. Elon Musk

Position: Tesla co-founder, chairman and CEO

Why he’s No. 9: Tesla has expanded its focus beyond electric cars, announcing the Powerpack and Powerwall batteries, which offer some of the first practical solutions for home owners looking to store surplus energy generated by solar panels. While still too pricey for the majority, Musk is working hard to change that. “The discussion around these products has been underscored by Musk’s vision of bringing affordable electricity products to consumers, with affordability a cornerstone of the products’ appeal,” the report notes.

8. Jeff Bezos

8. Jeff Bezos

Position: Amazon founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 8: Since founding Amazon in 1994, Bezos shaped the company into a powerhouse by aggressively pursuing a growth over profits strategy and pushing the company to expand into new sectors and develop far-ranging initiatives, including original TV content and unlimited eBook access.

7. Paul Eremenko

7. Paul Eremenko

Position: Director of engineering at Google

Why he’s No. 7: Eremenko has brought Google’s project Ara – which aims to create a modular, fully customizable smartphone, where the components can be swapped in and out – from concept to pilot stage.

6. Jack Ma

6. Jack Ma

Position: Alibaba co-founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 6: Alibaba is one of the world’s most successful ecommerce businesses, but Ma he isn’t content to stop there. He has indicated that Alibaba will develop its own mobile OS to promote its services, and “having previously stated that he was dissatisfied with the company’s penetration of the mobile Internet, Ma drove the mobile-first imperative into Alibaba’s growth strategy.”

5. Reed Hastings

5. Reed Hastings

Position: Netflix co-founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 5: With more than 60 million subscribers, Netflix is the most popular streaming service in the world. As its CEO and co-founder, Hastings has been instrumental in the company’s successful disruption of the linear TV model. In addition, under his leadership, Netflix has created critically acclaimed original series including House of Cards and Orange is The New Black. “Hastings has said that more than 320 hours of original content will be delivered this year, 3 times more than 2014, thereby becoming an increasing threat to traditional pay TV services such as HBO,” the report notes.

4. Travis Kalanick

4. Travis Kalanick

Position: Uber co-founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 4: Uber is crushing it. The on-demand car service is reportedly eyeing a $50 billion valuation. But there have been roadblocks, including pushback from legislators. Throughout what has become a series of setbacks, Kalanick has remained bullish on his company’s mission. “As the challenges to Uber’s business model continues, Kalanick’s vocal defense of his company will be vital in ensuring that Uber is not quashed by unsettled firms or unfriendly legislation,” the report reads.

3. Min-Liang Tan

3. Min-Liang Tan

Position: Razer co-founder and CEO

Why he’s No. 3: Tan isn’t just CEO of Razer, a gaming products company. He’s also its creative director, which means he’s doubly responsible for the company’s trajectory. A virtual reality enthusiast and the founding member of the OSVR (Open Source Virtual Reality) platform, Tan has been instrumental in creating a common standard on which VR programs are designed.

2. Jony Ive

2. Jony Ive

Position: Apple chief design officer

Why he’s No. 2: Ive is the mastermind behind the Apple Watch, widely praised for its elegant design and regarded as a leader in the smartwatch space. “The hype and sector awareness that the Apple Watch has generated means that Ive’s designs will be the benchmark for the category in future Consumer expectations will now compare features to the Apple Watch, even for non-iOS users.”

1. Satya Nadella

1. Satya Nadella

Position: Microsoft CEO

Why he’s No. 1: Since being appointed CEO in Feburary 2014, Nadella has launched Windows 10, a move that positions Microsoft as a platform-centric company, allowing users to experience OS services across devices. Nadella has said that he plans to make Windows services platform neutral. “This is a fundamental change to Microsoft’s business model,” the Juniper Research report reads. “Instead of centering its offerings on the OS, Nadella’s Windows-as-a-Service will result in a very different process of development at Microsoft in [the] future.”

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.

More from Entrepreneur.com:

  • 10. Lei Jun

    Lei Jun at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China on Nov. 29, 2014.
    ChinaFotoPress—ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images Lei Jun at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China on Nov. 29, 2014.

    Position: Xiaomi co-founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 10: As the co-founder of the third largest smartphone distributer, Lei rose to prominence by designing high-quality smartphones while keeping margins low. In recent years, he has overseen the company as it has developed a range of new products, including a wearable device, a tablet and a smart TV.

  • 9. Elon Musk

    Elon Musk attends LACMA's 50th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on April 18, 2015.
    Michael Kovac—Getty Images Elon Musk attends LACMA's 50th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on April 18, 2015.

    Position: Tesla co-founder, chairman and CEO

    Why he’s No. 9: Tesla has expanded its focus beyond electric cars, announcing the Powerpack and Powerwall batteries, which offer some of the first practical solutions for home owners looking to store surplus energy generated by solar panels. While still too pricey for the majority, Musk is working hard to change that. “The discussion around these products has been underscored by Musk’s vision of bringing affordable electricity products to consumers, with affordability a cornerstone of the products’ appeal,” the report notes.

  • 8. Jeff Bezos

    Jeff Bezos at a press conference in Washington on Sept. 17, 2014.
    Win McNamee—Getty Images Jeff Bezos at a press conference in Washington on Sept. 17, 2014.

    Position: Amazon founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 8: Since founding Amazon in 1994, Bezos shaped the company into a powerhouse by aggressively pursuing a growth over profits strategy and pushing the company to expand into new sectors and develop far-ranging initiatives, including original TV content and unlimited eBook access.

  • 7. Paul Eremenko

    Paul Eremenko at Engadget Expand New York 2014 in New York City on Nov. 7, 2014 in New York City.
    Bryan Bedder—Getty Images for Engadget Expand Paul Eremenko at Engadget Expand New York 2014 in New York City on Nov. 7, 2014 in New York City.

    Position: Director of engineering at Google

    Why he’s No. 7: Eremenko has brought Google’s project Ara – which aims to create a modular, fully customizable smartphone, where the components can be swapped in and out – from concept to pilot stage.

  • 6. Jack Ma

    Jack Ma at the Global Women Entrepreneurs Conference in Hangzhou, China on May 20, 2015.
    ChinaFotoPress—ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images Jack Ma at the Global Women Entrepreneurs Conference in Hangzhou, China on May 20, 2015.

    Position: Alibaba co-founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 6: Alibaba is one of the world’s most successful ecommerce businesses, but Ma he isn’t content to stop there. He has indicated that Alibaba will develop its own mobile OS to promote its services, and “having previously stated that he was dissatisfied with the company’s penetration of the mobile Internet, Ma drove the mobile-first imperative into Alibaba’s growth strategy.”

  • 5. Reed Hastings

    Reed Hastings at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on July 9, 2014.
    Scott Olson—Getty Images Reed Hastings at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on July 9, 2014.

    Position: Netflix co-founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 5: With more than 60 million subscribers, Netflix is the most popular streaming service in the world. As its CEO and co-founder, Hastings has been instrumental in the company’s successful disruption of the linear TV model. In addition, under his leadership, Netflix has created critically acclaimed original series including House of Cards and Orange is The New Black. “Hastings has said that more than 320 hours of original content will be delivered this year, 3 times more than 2014, thereby becoming an increasing threat to traditional pay TV services such as HBO,” the report notes.

  • 4. Travis Kalanick

    Travis Kalanick at an interview in Hong Kong on July 17, 2014.
    Brent Lewin—Bloomberg via Getty Images Travis Kalanick at an interview in Hong Kong on July 17, 2014.

    Position: Uber co-founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 4: Uber is crushing it. The on-demand car service is reportedly eyeing a $50 billion valuation. But there have been roadblocks, including pushback from legislators. Throughout what has become a series of setbacks, Kalanick has remained bullish on his company’s mission. “As the challenges to Uber’s business model continues, Kalanick’s vocal defense of his company will be vital in ensuring that Uber is not quashed by unsettled firms or unfriendly legislation,” the report reads.

  • 3. Min-Liang Tan

    Min-Liang Tang at Razer's research and development centre in Singapore.
    Roslan Rahman—AFP/Getty Images Min-Liang Tang at Razer's research and development centre in Singapore.

    Position: Razer co-founder and CEO

    Why he’s No. 3: Tan isn’t just CEO of Razer, a gaming products company. He’s also its creative director, which means he’s doubly responsible for the company’s trajectory. A virtual reality enthusiast and the founding member of the OSVR (Open Source Virtual Reality) platform, Tan has been instrumental in creating a common standard on which VR programs are designed.

  • 2. Jony Ive

    Jony Ive at the London Fashion Week on Sept. 17, 2012.
    Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty Images Jony Ive at the London Fashion Week on Sept. 17, 2012.

    Position: Apple chief design officer

    Why he’s No. 2: Ive is the mastermind behind the Apple Watch, widely praised for its elegant design and regarded as a leader in the smartwatch space. “The hype and sector awareness that the Apple Watch has generated means that Ive’s designs will be the benchmark for the category in future Consumer expectations will now compare features to the Apple Watch, even for non-iOS users.”

  • 1. Satya Nadella

    Satya Nadella at the Microsoft Developers Build Conference in San Francisco on April 29, 2015.
    David Paul Morris—Bloomberg via Getty Images Satya Nadella at the Microsoft Developers Build Conference in San Francisco on April 29, 2015.

    Position: Microsoft CEO

    Why he’s No. 1: Since being appointed CEO in Feburary 2014, Nadella has launched Windows 10, a move that positions Microsoft as a platform-centric company, allowing users to experience OS services across devices. Nadella has said that he plans to make Windows services platform neutral. “This is a fundamental change to Microsoft’s business model,” the Juniper Research report reads. “Instead of centering its offerings on the OS, Nadella’s Windows-as-a-Service will result in a very different process of development at Microsoft in [the] future.”

    This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.

    More from Entrepreneur.com:

Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com


YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy. Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.

The TIME Team