Boston Magazine’s
100 Most Influential People in Boston
Edited by David S. Bernstein
Who really runs this town? That’s the question we asked ourselves—and dozens of insiders—when we sat down to put this delightfully subjective list together. We weren’t looking for the richest people in Boston, or even the smartest. Instead, we sought out the businesspeople, tech moguls, politicians, and tastemakers that the rest of us are all watching, the folks who are truly shaping the city. That kind of power—that sticky idea of influence—has always been a hard thing to measure, but these days it’s more decentralized, diversified, and democratized than ever. Flagship institutions such as GE, Harvard, UMass, State Street, and the Boston Foundation have or are welcoming new leadership. The region’s well-established top industries are suddenly joined by casino gaming, fantasy sports, and marijuana. Gone are the days when a small cadre of city elites gathered to decide Boston’s destiny. Influence is sprinkled all over, which means there’s bound to be some spirited debate about who wields the most, or who was left off the list. And that’s perfectly fine with us.
Linda Pizzuti Henry / Photograph by Toan Trinh
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Linda Pizzuti Henry
Managing Director, The Boston Globe
By Diane Hessan (#50 on the list)
A couple of years ago, I called Linda and said, “Do you have five minutes? I have a really crazy idea.” And her response was: “I’ll give you 15—I love crazy!” A lot of people have ideas, but having the courage to say, “I’m going to drop everything and make this happen,” that’s what makes an entrepreneur. Linda does that.
If you asked her, I think she’d say that her life’s work is to make 21st-century Boston one of the greatest cities in the world. And it’s not just a vision. One part of her brilliance is bringing people together—I would call her a super-convener. She’s always asking, “Who should be working together?” And when those connections result in a crazy idea, she says, “Let’s do it.” (Think HUBweek, or the monthly salons she hosts.)
She has this amazing quality where she doesn’t have that neurotic desire for perfection that holds a lot of people back. She’s willing to put in the time and will ask everybody she can think of for help. And even though she wants to have a great plan, she doesn’t hold off because there’s a chance that it won’t be perfect—it’s always “How do we make things better?” That’s why everybody wants her on their board, as their leader, and in their corner—she is our most extraordinary civic entrepreneur.
Diane Hessan is the chairman of C Space.
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Marty Walsh
Mayor of Boston
He won reelection as mayor with nearly two-thirds of the vote—without bothering to run ads or really dip into his multimillion-dollar campaign war chest. It’s his town now. The only thing Walsh hasn’t proven is that he can get allies elected, but he’s putting his influence to the test this year by stumping for congressional hopefuls such as Dan Koh. This is not the year to bet against Boston’s mayor.
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Charlie Baker
Governor
Not only is Charlie Baker the country’s most popular governor, but the fiscal conservative has also been winning battles on Beacon Hill—to the point that raising taxes is barely discussed in this supposedly bluest of states. Assuming the man with the perfect head of hair can continue to stay clear of scandal, he’ll likely remain in charge until he heeds the siren song of national politics.
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Abigail Johnson
Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Investments
Bloomberg says she’s worth $11.2 billion; Forbes says $15.9 billion. Let’s not quibble. Since fully taking the company reins from her legendary father, Ned, in late 2016, Johnson has challenged the stodgy Boston brokerage image by enthusiastically endorsing cryptocurrency. She has also taken a very public lead in combatting sexual harassment. But will the notoriously private heir finally become more involved in local civic life? Insiders expect the answer will be yes.
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John Fish
Chairman and CEO, Suffolk Construction
Okay, so the $60 million expansion of his Roxbury HQ won’t include a helipad; he’s still getting almost everything he wanted. The construction titan is also staying on the cutting edge of technology with the creation of Smart Labs, and he recently lured former state Senator Linda Dorcena Forry away from public office to serve as his vice president for diversity, inclusion, and community relations.