The 2009 CRM Market Awards: The 2009 Influential Leaders

In the age-old battle between dreamers and visionaries, visionaries win out every time. The eight individuals honored this year may not be the biggest names in CRM — well, not all of them, anyway — but there's no doubt each one sports a powerful vision.

By the Editors of CRM magazine

For the rest of the September 2009 issue of CRM magazine please click here


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One of the most heartbreaking stretches of no-man's land is the hair's breadth that separates the dreamer and the visionary: The dreamer appears bathed in disappointment, while the visionary seems destined for greatness. CRM has always sported plenty of each, and it's surprisingly hard to tell them apart at times. (Don't be surprised if a few of the people you consider thought leaders were seen as the windmill-tilters of yesteryear.) Influence, it seems, is too often in the eye of the beholder, so behold CRM magazine's Influential Leaders for 2009. Nary a dreamer in the bunch-every one of them a true visionary, and generous enough to share some of that vision with us. Dreamers have to beg for our attention; visionaries are kind enough to part with some of their own.

THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

The Cloud Commando

MARC BENIOFF
COFOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SALESFORCE.COM

The Facilitator

CHRIS BROGAN
PRESIDENT, NEW MARKETING LABS

The Casual Cobbler

TONY HSIEH
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ZAPPOS.COM

The Aggregator

GUY KAWASAKI
AUTHOR, COFOUNDER, ALLTOP

The Fast Follower

ANTHONY LYE
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR CRM, ORACLE

The Socialist

ROSS MAYFIELD
CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND COFOUNDER, SOCIALTEXT

The Event Horizon

TIM O'REILLY
FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, O'REILLY MEDIA

The Strategist

JEREMIAH OWYANG
SENIOR ANALYST, FORRESTER RESEARCH

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To contact the editors, please email editor@destinationCRM.com

Every month, CRM magazine covers the customer relationship management industry and beyond. To subscribe, please visit http://www.destinationCRM.com/subscribe/.

Learn more about the companies mentioned in this article in the destinationCRM Buyer's Guide:

CRM Magazine Announces Winners of 2009 CRM Market Awards

Companies, customers, and industry visionaries honored for successes in the CRM marketplace over the previous 12 months.

Magazine Features: The 2009 CRM Market Awards - Introduction

We cover CRM every month, of course, but this month is special. This is when we pull out all the stops to recognize excellence—the vendors leading the marketplace across 10 categories; six Rising Stars making their presence felt; eight Influential Leaders inside and outside CRM who are changing the direction of the industry; and, best of all, four companies using CRM to connect with their customers.

Magazine Features: The 2009 CRM Market Awards: The 2009 Rising Stars

Six on the rise in 2009

Magazine Features: The 2009 CRM Market Awards: The 2009 Market Leaders

CRM magazine's eighth annual Market Leader awards rate the top five companies in 10 categories.

Magazine Features: The 2009 CRM Market Awards: The 2009 Elite

The four customer implementations deemed most worthy this year.