The founder of Black Enterprise magazine, Graves remains one of the most influential voices in the African-American business community.

A Bed-Stuy native, Graves graduated from Morgan State University, and after writing a letter to the Democratic National Committee, he became a volunteer for Lyndon Johnson's Presidential campaign in 1964. He impressed Democratic party leaders so much that he became an assistant for Robert F. Kennedy when he became a newly minted Senator in 1965, but following the Senator's assassination in 1968, he joined the advisory board of the Small Business Administration. His experience prompted him to write an annual newsletter featuring issues relevant to black businesspeople and highlighted the oft ignored importance of black consumer influence. Thus Black Enterprise was born in 1970, and the publication has grown to a monthly magazine with millions in readership. Graves hasn't completely devoted his time to Black Enterprise, though: he was CEO of Pepsi from 1990-1998 and has served on various high-power boards, including being appointed by George W. Bush to serve as an administrator for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. [Image via Getty]