Every fall, 7x7 editors scratch our heads, pull out our hair, and lose sleep at night as we deliberate the biggest quandary of our year: How to select just 20 luminaries from the Bay Area's boundless constellation of stars.
As always, this year's Hot 20 comprises the brightest influencers of our time, in fields as diverse as hip-hop and politics, philanthropy and fashion, theater and neuroscience. You'll meet an activist chef, a sensational first-time author, the James Dean of rappers, and a baseballer for the history books. And now, please give a big round of applause for the 2016 Hot 20!
THE SERIAL PHILANTHROPIST: Ido Leffler, Founder/CEO of Yes To and Yoobi
(Christopher Michel)
There's no project too big or too small for Ido Leffler, the Israel-born, Australian-raised founder of companies with great causes. His motto, Yes to Positivity, has led him to launch such inspired businesses as Yes To, Inc.—one of the top natural beauty brands in the U.S., which also plants organic gardens in schools around the nation—and Yoobi, a line of wickedly cool school supplies that follows the Tom's Shoes model: For every item purchased, Yoobi donates an item to an American classroom in need. And, his stylish paper plate company, Cheeky Home, partners with Feeding America and No Kid Hungry. This year, Leffler, also chairman of the board of the sustainable, plant-based water filter company SoMa, added TV to his growing list of credits: Look for Leffler on Oxygen's Quit Your Day Job. —Katie Wanket