Most Iconic Leaders To Watch 2025
Editor's Note
In an era defined by disruption, vision, and reinvention, leadership has evolved beyond titles and boardrooms. The icons of today are those who lead with purpose—fusing innovation with integrity, and ambition with empathy.
As we present ValiantCXO’s Most Iconic Leaders to Watch in 2025, we celebrate trailblazers who are not only transforming industries but redefining what it means to lead in a rapidly changing world. These individuals have turned challenges into catalysts and ideas into impact, inspiring teams, communities, and the next generation of changemakers.
This issue is a tribute to those who see possibilities where others see limits—and who remind us that true leadership is not about power, but about progress.
Henry Wilson
Chief Editor, ValiantCXO Magazine
COVER STORY
James Radford: From Adversity to Visionary Leadership
True leadership is often forged not in comfort, but in moments of uncertainty. For James Radford, leadership began at a kitchen table, facing life as a single father after an unexpected medical retirement from the U.S. Air Force. With responsibility outweighing fear, Radford transformed adversity into purpose—laying the foundation for what would become Trust Consulting Services.
Radford’s decade-long experience as a Contracting Officer shaped his belief in discipline, accountability, and trust. These values became the backbone of TRUST—both its name and its mission. Growth came not from shortcuts, but from consistent delivery and a values-driven approach to leadership.
Today, James Radford stands as a leader who measures success by impact, not titles. Through innovation, workforce development, and community-focused initiatives like the Courage to Climb Foundation, he continues to redefine what responsible leadership looks like. His journey is a powerful reminder that resilience, integrity, and vision can turn life’s most difficult moments into legacies that last—making Radford one of the Most Iconic Leaders to Watch in 2025.
Featured
Designation
Discription
James Radford
CEO
Trust Consulting Services
When people talk about leadership, they often think of titles, corner offices, or big contracts. For James Radford, leadership began in a much smaller place: a kitchen table surrounded by his four young children. After a decade of service in the U.S. Air Force, a sudden medical retirement left him without the certainty of a paycheck or the comfort of a well-laid career path. What he did have was responsibility. As a single father, he knew he could not afford to sit still….
Sanjay Raghavaraju
Founder and CEO
33 Holdings
Sanjay Raghavaraju’s journey from technology executive to real estate leader is a story of vision, innovation, and fearless transformation. As the Founder and CEO of 33 Holdings, a global real estate investment and private equity firm, Sanjay has mastered the art of merging data-driven precision with strategic foresight. What began as a local venture in Atlanta, Georgia, has blossomed into a powerful investment platform with a growing presence across North America, the Middle East, and South Asia….
Pam Kurt
Founder and Coach
Best Version you LLC
For nearly two decades, Pam Kurt built her career as a family law attorney. Day after day, she sat across from people during some of the lowest points in their lives: divorces, custody battles, and messy transitions. She guided them through the legal system, but what struck her most was that their real need was often something deeper. They wanted peace. They wanted a sense of purpose. They wanted to feel whole again…