Richard Branson/Herb Kelleher - Leader Extraordinaire

Born in 1950 in a traditional Christian family, Branson was not a brilliant student. As a boy he was a shortsighted dyslexic,¹ had a tough time memorizing and reciting text, and performed terribly at standard IQ tests. But he was very good at sports and was seen as someone with the desire to succeed. According to analysts, since his childhood, Branson had a thirst for success and a special quality to connect with people. This was what enabled him to energize the ambitions of others so that they also could rise to realize their dreams. As a teenager (17 years), frustrated by the rules and regulations of his school (Stow School), Branson and his friend Jonny Gems started a student magazine called the 'Student.'

I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." The first edition was so impressive that BBC tracked down Branson and made a documentary called 'The people of tomorrow.' This recognition helped Branson and his magazine grow. Branson's entrepreneurial success continued when he opened a mail order record retail business and named it 'Virgin.' When asked about why he chose the name 'Virgin,' he replied, "I was a virgin in business." Even this venture was highly successful. Later on he opened a record shop at Oxfordstreet in London. In 1972, Branson started a recording studio at Oxfordshire. Virgin recorded its first artist Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' in 1972, which went on to sell more than five million copies.