GenJuice’s Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors list

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GenJuice’s Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors list

February 24, 2011 by Olivier Blanchard

GenJuice just released its list of Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors, and… through either a) divine intervention, b) a computer glitch, c) a case of mistaken identity or d) a perfectly aimed envelope containing about 300 Pesos, I somehow managed to find myself in 81st place, squeezed between President Obama and American Apparel CEO Dov Charney.

My initial reaction, as you can well imagine:

Wow.
What the hell is going on over at GenJuice? Have those kids lost their minds over there? Did the computer go crazy? What the…

… But as it turns out, the process was completely scientific (as in completely human) and 100% legit. How did GenJuice come up with the list? By asking their audience. So there you go. Don’t blame dimpled chads and glitchy polling booths for this one. From the brains at GenJuice:

Who do you look up to? What movers and shakers take your aspirations to new heights because of everything they achieved? GenJuice spoke with young adults around the world to find out the people they most admire.

Today’s young adults have access to so many research and communication tools and resources thanks to technology, but one thing remains certain: mentorship is an irreplaceable asset for personal and professional growth. This is precisely why GenJuice spoke with young adults and compiled our first Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors. You will find pioneers in policy, technology, entertainment, media, and more.

The result was GenJuice’s list of a 100 most desirable mentors, and through some strange twist of circumstance, my name came up. To get us started, let’s take a quick look at my favorite co-listers in the top 20:

Not a bad start, but it gets better:

… and hotter:

(Update: Congrats to Natalie for now being ‘Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman!’ Well deserved.)

… and now things start to get really interesting:

Unfortunately, the editors of GenJuice stopped posting profile photos outside of the Top 20, but let me list a few more names I plucked out from the back of the plane just now:

21 Chris Anderson (Curator of TED)

23 Steve Jobs (from, you know… Apple)

33 Nelson Mandela (not to be confused with Morgan Freeman, and vis-versa)

40 Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)

53 Colin Powell (Former Secretary of State)

58 Jack Dorsey (Twitter)

65 Bill Clinton (you know… THE Bill Clinton)

67 Sanjay Gupta (CNN)

80 President Barack Obama

81 Me (owner of Chico the chihuahua)

85 Bono (U2)

94 Brian Solis (who kindly wrote my foreword)

96 Annie Leibovitz (who inspired me to be a photographer)

98 MC Hammer (who inspired me to wear parachute pants)

100 J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter author)

Wait a second… I’m on a list alongside Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Bono?!?!? (Not to mention the delicious Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman.)

Best day ever. Thanks, GenJuice!

PS: I think my consulting fees just went up at least $0.03 per day.

Cheers.

… Oh by the way, did I mention I have a book coming out just in time for my spring European tour? You can pre-order it now and everything. I know, crazy:

Posted in brandbuilder, business thinkers, creativity, culture, me | Tagged bono, brandbuilder, branson, clinton, coelho, GenJuice, gupta, hsieh, huffington, jobs, kanye, mandela, mentor, obama, olivier blanchard, portman, powell, rowling, simmons, solis, Top 100, vaynerchuck | 23 Comments

23 Responses

on February 24, 2011 at 09:43 | Reply Tweets that mention GenJuice’s Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors list « The BrandBuilder Blog -- Topsy.com

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on February 24, 2011 at 10:19 | Reply Daria Steigman

Hi Olivier,

Wow, Natalie Portman and Bono are on the same list with you? I’m so impressed.

Seriously, though, congratulations. And I’ll bet you are make a better actual mentor than most of these folks.

Best,
Daria
- on February 24, 2011 at 12:13 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Thanks, Daria.🙂
  
  Aside from the fact that I intend to milk this for all it’s worth, it gives me something to aspire to: Two US presidents? Russell Simmons and Sir Richard Branson? Nelson Mandela? I’d better make sure I am worthy of the connection now.
  
  Cheers.
on February 24, 2011 at 10:20 | Reply Daria Steigman

“And I’ll bet you are a better actual mentor…” (It helps when I am coherent.)
on February 24, 2011 at 10:30 | Reply Nacho

Its surprising giving most of this list is based on star power, but I follow your blog and I gotta say for those who know your work it makes total sense! This speaks highly of your work.
- on February 24, 2011 at 12:15 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Thanks, Nacho. I highlighted the most iconic figures. If you look at the rest of the 100, many of them are a little less famous.🙂 Still though, I am very surprised to find myself in such good company.
on February 24, 2011 at 12:52 | Reply Maddie Grant

Too bad your Klout score won’t go up as a result… LOL. Congrats, hon. You totally rock.
- on February 24, 2011 at 22:26 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Thanks! Now I have to make sure I’m worthy of the mention.🙂
on February 24, 2011 at 12:58 | Reply Brian Driggs

Cheers!

You’re going places!
- on February 24, 2011 at 22:27 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  I can say without a doubt that I have the lowest net worth on that list. Going places sounds great!😀
on February 24, 2011 at 20:07 | Reply Raul Colon

I guess little by little you are getting an idea of how much respect you have in the online and real world. People are listening to your awesome and great content.

Congrats and out of the whole list seeing that your name was included made me smile.
- on February 24, 2011 at 22:29 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Raul, thanks, buddy. Much appreciated. I love that the list blended famous and not-so-famous individuals. I would have been honored to be on the Top 1,000.
on February 25, 2011 at 01:22 | Reply Danny Brown

Maybe now you’ll stop griping about your Hubspot omission…😉

Good going, mate, great list to be on – and between BOB, no less. Suh-weet!🙂
- on February 27, 2011 at 13:45 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Maaaaaybe.
on February 26, 2011 at 04:18 | Reply jaijee jacob

Hi OB,

Congrats, its really a great list, and its a better joy to find someone whom I closely follow is in the list. Next time in top 10.

Cheers
- on February 27, 2011 at 13:45 | Reply Olivier Blanchard
  
  Thanks, man. I’ll give it a shot.
on February 28, 2011 at 12:10 | Reply Bettina

Congratulations! I’m really thrilled by the quality of people who are on that list.
on February 28, 2011 at 18:50 | Reply Scott Gould

I have no idea how you got here – especially considering that I mentor people all day long😉 – BUT –

Thoroughly well deserved and an accurate description of a dear friend and smart cookie🙂

Well done – and when you start your mentoring programme, let me know! I’ll sign up!
on May 5, 2011 at 18:15 | Reply ML

Right after Barak Obama and coincidently with the same initials… way to go, well done!
on May 5, 2011 at 18:46 | Reply Steve Woodruff

…and to think I knew you when you were listed somewhere on the AdAge450…
on May 6, 2011 at 10:27 | Reply karima-Catherine

Said it once, saying it again, you deserve it. It is impressive and you earned this place.

KC
on August 22, 2012 at 15:51 | Reply Ingrid Stabb

I’m starting to point people to this blog post – so glad you wrote this article and I hope you continue to get more traffic to your site via this post. Congrats fellow Most Desirable Mentor🙂 @ingridstabb
- on August 24, 2012 at 13:57 | Reply lucajove
  
  Jamais se desespere em meio as sombrias aflições de sua vida, pois das nuvens mais negras cai água límpida e fecunda.Seja sempre positivo e seja feliz.Boa tarde e obrigado!!!