Instant Alert: These Americans are changing the world — and they're all under 40

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   These Americans are changing the world — and they're all under 40 by Rachel Gillett on Oct 27, 2017, 4:36 PM Advertisement Each year, the World Economic Forum selects innovative and socially-minded young people to receive its Young Global Leaders award. Awardees, who are recognized for making considerable contributions to their field and society, are all under the age of 40, and 20 of them hail from the US this year. This year's Young Global Leaders class includes leaders from an array of backgrounds. Some are political and and community leaders, others are inventors, CEOs, philanthropists, and scientists working on revolutionary ideas. Once chosen by the WEF, these leaders are a part of the program for five years, and they attend meetings, participate in initiatives and research, and work with the rest of the WEF's community. Here are the 20 US leaders making a worldwide impact. SEE ALSO: Most people in America want paid parental leave — here's the real reason the US is the only developed nation that doesn't have it DON'T MISS: Years before becoming Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau recruited women into politics so he could stack his cabinet with them once elected Feng Zhang is a professor at MIT Why he made the list: Zhang is "one of the most acclaimed young scientists in the world and a pioneer of CRISPR, the breakthrough gene-editing technique that lets scientists manipulate the genetic code of organisms." Adam Kinzinger is a Republican congressman from Illinois Why he made the list: Kinzinger is "a former armed forces pilot and Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives who has emerged as a champion for improving the lives of veterans." Aja Brown is the mayor of Compton, California Why she made the list: Brown is "the youngest mayor to ever be elected in Compton, California, whose 'New Vision for Compton' is a revitalization strategy centered on 12 key principles that focus on family values, quality of life, economic development and infrastructural growth. She received the National Action Network Martin Luther King Award." See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011