Nikola Tesla

Who he is: 

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American electrical engineer and inventor whose work on alternating-current (AC) motors and polyphase power helped shape the modern electrical grid. He collaborated with industry partners to bring AC systems into factories and cities. Tesla also explored wireless signaling and remote control, turning speculative ideas into world-changing reality. His notebooks reveal a mind obsessed with precision and possibility.

 

Why he matters: 

Tesla’s AC work made it practical to transmit electricity efficiently over long distances, powering modern life. He balanced bold hypotheses with calculations, prototypes, and public tests —a process still used in engineering today. His career, including setbacks, teaches the value of evidence and perseverance over hype. He’s a reminder that for engineers, imagination and math often must travel together.