5 Business Technology Pioneers

Where would we be without technology? From the World Wide Web to the smartphone and everything in between, technology has completely transformed the way humankind operates. You can now order a pizza while riding the subway or book a hotel room while driving.

One thing is for sure: technology wouldn’t be what it is today without the business technology engineers who shaped it. While countless individuals have influenced this industry, here’s a look at five of the most influential pioneers.

1. Mark Zuckerberg

You can’t even buy a pack of gum without seeing that iconic blue “f” for Facebook. With billions of users and new users joining daily, Mark Zuckerberg—the creator of the social media giant—is undeniably one of today’s most notable business technology pioneers.

2. Sergey Brin and Larry Page

These Stanford University graduates co‑created the world’s largest search engine—Google. They aimed to provide precise search results with minimal user effort. Today, “Google” has become a verb—used to describe online searching itself.

3. Bill Gates

At just 19, Bill Gates co-founded one of the first personal‑computer software companies. By age 24, he joined forces with Paul Allen, struck a deal with IBM, and helped change the course of computing and the World Wide Web. Gates is now among the world’s wealthiest individuals.

4. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs’s name is synonymous with Apple, but his achievements go further: he also pioneered the animation industry as chairman of Pixar. He revolutionized modern music, communication, and entertainment.

5. Thomas Watson Sr. and Lou Gerstner

These two working-class leaders at IBM spearheaded its transformation into a computer technology and IT consulting powerhouse. They shaped the company into the influential organization it is today.