It's the kind of story that Hollywood would reject as too corny. A young boy grows up in extreme poverty halfway around the world in a totalitarian regime; today, his business decisions could impact anyone who uses the Web. At least, that's the goal of Carnegie Mellon alumnus and Microsoft president Qi Lu.

The opera stage beckoned for the Kansas City high school student affectionately called Mr. Music by his classmates. With the blessings of his parents, girlfriend, and voice instructor, he pursued his dream at Carnegie Mellon's School of Music until the day came when he cross-examined himself.

Most of Derrick Smith's career has been with CSX, a prominent rail-based transportation company. Along the way, the Carnegie Mellon alumnus hasn't just helped CSX excel, he's helped its employees excel, too. Such a track record has landed him on Savoy's list of "The 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America."

Given the strained relations between Iran and the United States, don't look for U.S. President Barack Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to have a meal together anytime soon. But that's not stopping some Pittsburghers and Iranians from having a peaceful, enlightening dinner together without them leaving their country.