One of the best parts of my job is getting to meet amazing people who are doing amazing things. Some of them are well known—but most quietly do the work of making the world better without fame or recognition.

Some are teachers who think outside the box to prepare the next generation to succeed in college and life. Others are health workers or agriculture experts, working to bring the most cutting-edge science to the most remote places on earth. From an Ebola survivor in Nigeria to a Swedish data nerd, these are the people putting in the real work to improve lives.

I want to introduce you to just a few of the millions of people making a difference in our world. While they may be too humble to call themselves heroes, I can think of no better word to describe them. Their lives inspire me. I hope they’ll inspire you too.