will.i.am

As a creative artist, tech entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of FYI.AI, will.i.am has been recognized by a CLIO Award, an Emmy Award, nine Grammy Awards, the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, a TIME 100 Impact Award, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award, and an Honorary Fellowship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

He is simultaneously a creative innovator, multi-platinum music artist, producer, and a tech founder as part of his cross-disciplinary career. will.i.am’s early work as a Futurist and market opportunity spotter was with Beats Electronics. As a founding equity stakeholder in the company, he was instrumental in helping to transform Beats By Dre™ into a global consumer electronics brand. Beats Electronics was purchased by Apple in 2014 for US$3 billion.

What drives will.i.am’s entrepreneurial spirit in innovation and technology is his work in philanthropy, encouraging inner-city youth to pursue STEAM fields to prepare for an AI, autonomous, robotic, and highly technical tomorrow. An advocate for lifelong learning, will.i.am returned to school and completed Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Executive Education Program in October 2024.

His i.am Angel Foundation funds STEAM education programs for 14,000+ disadvantaged youth in grades K–12 in Los Angeles, including the i.am College Track after-school tutoring center and college scholarship program, the Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High School, and after-school robotics clubs in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and FIRST robotics. He sits on the boards of directors of College Track, FIRST Global, and the Smithsonian Institution Science Education Center’s Ad Hoc Committee For Innovation.

Photo credit: Sterling Hampton IV