


Around the planet, our 45 licensed editions span six continents, 27 languages and 14 time zones. They all share the same mission: celebrating entrepreneurial capitalism in all its forms.
Edson dos Santos
Carlos CésarSince Edson dos Santos (no relation to former president José Eduardo dos Santos) joined Angolan energy company Somoil—now called Etu Energias—in 2020, crude oil production has nearly tripled to 17,000 barrels per day and turnover is approaching $450 million. The chairman is eyeing expansion to neighboring Namibia and beyond.
Eliana Bracciaforte
Alejandro Baccarat for Forbes ArgentinaWhile building 10-year-old Workana into a leading freelancer platform in Latin America, Buenos Aires–based cofounder and chief operating officer Eliana Bracciaforte revealed her trans identity in 2022. The company serves more than 2 million registered workers, with more than 200,000 new users each month.
Christina Holgate
Mick Bruzesse“Turnaround boss” Christina Holgate has increased revenue 16% and reduced staff turnover by half since mid-2021 leading Melbourne-based logistics company Team Global Express. The former head of Australia’s postal service exited that position in 2020 amid controversy regarding expensive gift giving.
Elena Marinova
Dilyan Markov for Forbes BulgariaMusala Soft, a Bulgarian software provider cofounded by Elena Marinova in 2000 with $34 million in 2022 revenue, was acquired early last year by Czech holding group ARICOMA, part of billionaire Karel Komárek’s KKCG investment group.
Vincent Lo and Stephanie Lo
Lucas Schifres for Forbes AsiaAs Hong Kong billionaire Vincent Lo, 75, plans semi-retirement, daughter Stephanie will take the reins of Shui On Land, the family’s public company known for developing Shanghai entertainment district Xintiandi. Her priorities include reducing carbon emissions.
Sandra Hinestroza, Leonor Espinosa, Francia Márquez and Liliana Restrepo
Diana Rey Melo / Forbes ColombiaForbes Colombia presents the list of the country’s most powerful women— featuring (from left) Sandra Hinestroza, director of HP Colombia; Leonor Espinosa, chef; Francia Márquez, the country’s first Black vice president; and Liliana Restrepo, cofounder of chicken restaurant chain Frisby.
Nikos Christodoulides
Demetris VattisNikos Christodoulides, president of Cyprus, details his plans as he takes office. His government’s main priorities include boosting tourism and speeding the digitization of the economy, tax reform and a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
Soňa Červená
Hana KnížováForbes Czech remembers Soňa Červená, an internationally acclaimed opera singer who died in May at 97. The soloist had performed around the world and fronted the 2017 magazine issue featuring the country’s most influential women.
“I’m an entrepreneur, hardworking, brave, a fighter, mother, wife, lawyer, financier, woman. I’m many things. I refuse to be catalogued and judged just for being a woman.”
Alice Groth
Marc Hayot PhotographyAmong the newest honorees in venture capital, Forbes France’s 30 Under 30 list recognizes Alice Groth as part of the founding team of Sistafund, a Paris-based firm planning to invest more than $110 million into female-led and gender-balanced teams.
TBC Leasing executives
Khatuna Khutsishvili / Forbes GeorgiaThe executives of TBC Leasing see big growth potential in lending, which currently accounts for just 1% of Georgian GDP. The Tbilisi-based team serves 4,000 clients and manages a portfolio worth $158 million.
Florian Seibel
Thomas DashuberQuantum Systems has supplied Ukraine’s military with some 100 unarmed drones capable of scouting enemy positions and artillery targets. Cofounded by Florian Seibel and backed by German-born billionaire Peter Thiel, the Munich-based manufacturer prices each drone at about $198,000.
Forbes Greece ranks the best ESG performers of the country’s 100 largest companies. Titan Cement, among 18 earning top marks, recorded $2.4 billion in sales last year while reducing carbon emissions at its plants, including four in Greece.
To boost the economy and reduce logistical issues, Central American infrastructure needs a makeover that will cost $8.3 billion by some estimates. In 2022, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, a multilateral development bank headquartered in Honduras’ capital, approved $4 billion in grants for the region’s rehabilitation and expansion costs.
Michael O’Leary
Arthur CarronFormer billionaire Michael O’Leary, longtime CEO of Ireland-based budget airline Ryanair, decries the Hungarian government’s intentions to purchase Budapest Airport for $4.8 billion: “What for? To make it unprofitable? Governments are generally very bad owners of airports and airlines.”
Apple store opening in India
Madhu KapparathEven with Android dominating India’s market share, Apple is expanding its operations in the country, having opened its first Indian retail store in April in Mumbai. Apple is also boosting local manufacturing, taking advantage of lower production costs and rising demand.
Eilon Elhadad and Eylam Milner
Nir SlakmanEilon Elhadad (left), recently 31, and Eylam Milner, 29, front Forbes Israel’s 30 Under 30 issue. Their Tel Aviv–based startup, Argon Security, protects clients’ custom software against cyberthreats. It sold to Aqua Security for an estimated $80 million in late 2021.
Pasquale Cataldi
Pasquale CataldiAltus Lifestyle, a real estate firm cofounded by Pasquale Cataldi, has restored and sold properties for the ultrawealthy since 2016. From castles to palaces, the Florence-based company relies heavily on local artisans and craftsmanship for its renovations.
Shiori “Siorine” Onuki
Munehiro Hoashi (AVGVST)Among its “Creator 100” list of innovators in the creative economy, Forbes Japan features Shiori “Siorine” Onuki. The midwife, author and sex educator based in Kanagawa, south of Tokyo, counts more than 200,000 followers across YouTube and Twitter.
Yerlan Shulanov
Andrey LuninGovernment leaders and Yerlan Shulanov, rector of Kozybayev University, hope a partnership with the University of Arizona will stop young people from leaving northern Kazakhstan. The program enables students to obtain dual degrees in disciplines such as information science.
Forbes Africa - 30 Under 30
Katlego MokubyaneForbes Africa’s ninth annual 30 Under 30 list features 29-year-old Tesh Mbaabu (front right), cofounder and CEO of Nairobi-based MarketForce. The B2B startup raised $40 million in funding last year and is providing fintech and e-commerce tools to 200,000 retail merchants.
Federico Toussaint Elosúa
Oswaldo RamírezCeramics maker Lamosa plans to invest more than $260 million this year to strengthen its global presence. The family business, based in Monterrey, has grown from revenue of $80 million to a projected $1.8 billion for 2023 since its CEO, Federico Toussaint Elosúa, arrived 30 years ago.
Daniel Pawełek
Adam Pańczuk“If we survived the pandemic, we will survive everything,” says Daniel Pawełek, as his six restaurants and wine shops weather inflation, near recession and war next door. He leads Forbes Poland’s list of the country’s top 50 restaurateurs two years running.
Carlos Mota Santos (right) and cousin Manuel Mota
Marisa CardosoCarlos Mota Santos (right) and cousin Manuel Mota recently took over the family’s multinational construction business, becoming CEO and deputy CEO, respectively. Mota-Engil recorded 2022 turnover of $4 billion, employing some 1,800 Portuguese expatriates on three continents.
Bucharestraveling concept background.
ShutterstockForbes Romania lists the country’s best areas for business. Bucharest lands the No. 1 spot, with a GDP of $76 billion—$62 billion more than runner-up Timișoara.
Andrej Krúpa Kupa (right) and Juraj Gago
Miro NôtaSimplicity, an app from Forbes Slovakia 30 Under 30 alumni Juraj Gago (left) and Andrej Krúpa, is used in major cities including New York, Austin and Miami by local governments and institutions to communicate with up to 50 million residents.
Forbes Spain
Gabriel AlcalaSpanish hotel company Grupo Iberostar, led by 84-year-old billionaire Miguel Fluxá Rosselló, signed a 30-year contract late last year with InterContinental Hotels Group, bringing 70 beachfront properties worldwide under IHG’s marketing umbrella and into its customer rewards program.
Mark Chahwan and Nadine Mezher
Forbes Middle EastMark Chahwan and Nadine Mezher cofounded UAE-based investment platform and personal finance app Sarwa with Jad Sayegh in 2017. The fintech has raised $25 million in total funding and has over 180,000 users.
Howard Buffett
Howard BuffettAmong the largest private-sector donors to Ukraine’s wartime efforts, billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s son Howard and his foundation gave about $150 million last year and plan to give an additional $300 million in 2023. Projects include funding school meals alongside Olena Zelenska, the country’s first lady.
Le Hong Minh (center)
Illustration by Yen Ha – Alpha Art StationWhile the country’s six billionaires range in age from 53 to 63, Forbes Vietnam features the next generation of industry leaders. Le Hong Minh (center), 45, cofounded VNG, a media, gaming and payments unicorn challenging Facebook Messenger and expected to go public in the U.S.