When someone describes herself as "the perfect mash-up between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Beyoncé," you know she's going to be awesome, and Jessica O. Matthews is just that. She's a Nigerian-American inventor, CEO, and venture capitalist with degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. She cofounded Uncharted Power, which makes energy-producing products like the Soccket Ball, a soccer ball that's also a power generator. But she's already thinking much bigger than that, with help from investors like Disney. Her goal? Provide cost-efficient energy for underserved communities. She's also determined to build a diverse company that reflects the world in which we live. "Half our staff is women, which is rare for an energy company," she told Forbes. "About 30 to 40 percent of our team is Black or Latinx. And we moved our headquarters from downtown Manhattan to Harlem."
Badass Fact: In 2012, the Harvard Foundation For Intercultural and Race Relations named Jessica the Scientist of the Year.