Fortune’s 10th annual Change the World list is led by a group of space pioneers pushing the boundaries of innovation. They include SpaceX, operator of the Starlink satellite internet service; GHGSat, the leading space-based greenhouse gas emissions monitor; and Rocket Lab, the creator of a revolutionary reusable orbital-class small rocket. Two companies with strong Arizona ties — Cognizant, a software company in Mesa; and Honeywell, an aerospace technologies company with headquarters in Phoenix — made the Top 10.
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Fortune’s 2024 list showcases 52 companies globally that have created significant social or environmental impact through their profit-driven strategies and operations, spanning a range of industries including technology, space, e-commerce, and health care. This year’s list includes 30 from North America, 12 from Europe, 8 from Asia and Australia, one from Africa, and one from South America.
Fortune Executive Features Editor Matt Heimer said, “This year’s edition, our 10th, showcases 52 businesses that continue the Change the World list’s legacy of combining public-spiritedness with the profit motive. These companies let their actions speak for themselves—harnessing the creative impulses of capitalism to address social problems and generating revenue while doing so.”
Alongside space innovation, the Fortune Change the World list highlights technology companies that showcase AI’s potential for positive impact and that are dedicated to using technology for the greater good. Companies showcasing innovative approaches include Ello (No. 5), which deploys AI to address childhood literacy gaps with personalized reading tutorials; Alibaba Group (No. 8), which detects pancreatic cancer lesions with advanced technology; Samsara (No. 23), which uses AI to detect and automatically notify drivers of unsafe driving behaviors; and Kayrros (No. 30), which maps wildfire patterns for improved fire prevention and disaster management.
Meanwhile, Levi Strauss (no. 13) is recognized for its efforts to increase voter turnout and encourage employees in retail to exercise their right to vote.
The top 10 on the Fortune 2024 Change the World List are:
- GHGSat, Rocket Lab, SpaceX; (Canada, U.S., U.S.)
- Grab (Singapore)
- Viettel Group (Vietnam)
- Maven Clinic (U.S.)
- Ello (U.S.)
- Globant (Argentina)
- Cognizant and Cisco (U.S.)
- Alibaba Group (China)
- Commercial International Bank (Egypt)
- Honeywell (U.S.)
The Change the World list was selected and sequenced by the editors of Fortune based on the magazine’s own reporting and analysis. The final list was selected from a field of 250 nominees.
Fortune CEO Anastasia Nyrkovskaya added, “The Change the World List spotlights companies that are shaping our future, whether in the near term or 100 years from now. And it recognizes leaders who are driving true innovation and addressing social issues – and making money while doing it.”
View the complete 2024 Fortune Change the World list here and the methodology here.
