Last week, MITX announced the 6 Future Leaders for 2010.  They are:

• Justin Cannon, CEO, Lingt – Leverages web technologies to build innovative online tools for foreign language teachers
• Cort Johnson, CEO, DartBoston – Network of the top, young entrepreneurs and professionals in Boston who are making awesome things happen
• Matt Lauzon, CEO, Gemvara – Leading online jewelry destination giving shoppers the ultimate custom jewelry experience
• Christine Peterson, Social Media Enthusiast, Mullen – Full service modern advertising agency
• Ali Robbins, Tuck MBA Student – Graduate Student at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
• Rob Toof, CEO, Proctorcam – Proctoring service and management tool for distance education programs

Each of the 26 nominees answered a series of questions as part of the review.  Here’s one of the questions, with some snippets of my favorite answers:

Question:  Let’s say cats ruled the world and you were made the ruler of all cats.  Cats hate water.  What would you recommend be done with the oceans?

Snippet #1:

I would take my cue from the tobacco industry and begin paying movie executives to include scenes of glamorous kitties enjoying a quick dip in the hot-tub or getting their coats wet during a relaxing stroll on the beach. I would recruit the most celebrated cats from YouTube and hire them for a series of TV spots entitled “Water we so afraid of?” I would fund the construction of public pools and subsidize swimming lessons. Finally, I would incorporate “water education” into cat primary school curricula. If I were filling a bit more malevolent, I would recruit a cadre of cat historians to convince the public that fear of water is a recent phenomenon spurred by modern complacency. We would rewrite the textbooks to litter the cat historical narrative with subtle interactions with water; did you know that the reputed cats of ancient Egypt actually held an annual swimming race across the Nile? Acceptance of water would become a retro liberal trend that would slowly build a wide adoption.

Snippet #2:

During their ruling, I’d ensure their safety and help drive a cat migration inland. I’d preserve the coasts by renting vet clinics on the beachfront (cat’s won’t rule forever – got to preserve the beaches). I’d make sure that cats were motivated to move inland by building a destination made entirely of brown grocery bags with holes cut out in the corners, moving shadows and fountains of milk – tentatively named Sin Kitty.

If cats needed to cross the ocean, I’d offer a boat service, likely a “cat-amaran” for safe transportation across bodies of water – coach equivalent would be a warm radiator near the window and first class would be under a bed, away from any view of water. Spokesperson for the boat service I’m thinking Puss In Boots from Shrek. He has sex appeal and would sooth the most nervous of kitties.

Snippet #3:

I would institute mandatory swim training class in elementary schools, training our kittens that getting wet need not be frightening.  I would propose that we build a series of bridges, boats and submarines so that we may enjoy the beauty that is the ocean without getting wet.  Finally, I would encourage each and every citizen to construct a small aquarium in their home stocked with fish to remind them that the sea is home to some of our greatest treasures (we’d call them victory aquariums, if you’re wondering).  My fellow felines, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.  And dogs.  Meow.

Snippet #4:

In keeping with the theory of Darwin’s survival of the fittest, I would use Foursquare to determine which cat would be mayor of respective areas of the sea.  This tactic would allow the cats full authority to re-name areas as they see fit, perhaps to the “Catlantic Ocean,” or the “Bay of Kittens.”  The mayor of the greater Dubai area would build out more islands into the ocean to establish play communities for the kittens and the active senior cats.  It would be a purr-fect world, suitable for even the most anti-aquatic cat.

Snippet #5:

If I had to “do something with the oceans” I would cover them with huge pristine white couches because then the cats would be on those couches and over their fear in no time. Cats seek out anything white and recently vacuumed.

How would you have responded?