In explaining why they cited the people they did as examples of great leaders, respondents' qualitative responses fell into three broad categories: 

• Demonstrate entrepreneurship to build a lasting legacy. The majority of individuals in this category were business leaders who had built a successful, dynamic global organization from scratch. 
• Have a core belief and work tirelessly to achieve its goal. This covered many of the political, academic and religious leaders nominated. 
• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity and tenacity. This category related primarily to sports and entertainment leaders.

When naming a person who "exemplifies great leadership," respondents chose the following people (in order):

1.  Jack Welch
2.  Steve Jobs
3.  George Bush
4.  Nelson Mandela
5.  Colin Powell
6.  Mahatma Ghandi
7.  Bill Gates
8.  Rudolph Guiliani
9.  Abraham Lincoln
10. Jesus
11. Winston Churchill
12. Bill Clinton
13. Oprah Winfrey
14. Tony Blair
15. Martin Luther King, Jr.
16. Richard Branson
17. Lance Armstrong
18. Pope Jean Paul II
19. Michael Dell
20. Warren Buffett
21. Dalai Lama

Additional survey findings are on the magazine's Web site, www.fastcompany.com.