Chad Romans, 22

Chad Romans is a surefire contender for most unusual backstory of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. At age 11, he got into BMX racing — so much so he discovered he had immense talent for the sport. He turned pro, competing in events at far-flung locales worldwide, including Belgium, Turkey and his personal favorite, Baku, Azerbaijan. 

“It’s like a miniature Dubai between Iran and Russia,” he says of Baku. “Anytime you mention it, people are like, ‘Where the heck is that?’ It’s a complete culture shock. It’s fascinating to me.”