As a biracial kid growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, Noah learned to confront political injustice by poking fun at it. Now, at age 34, he brings that same sensibility to a world-touring stand-up act and a gig hosting the Daily Show—a role he took over from Jon Stewart and quickly made his own.

A version of this article appeared in the September–October 2018 issue (p.156) of Harvard Business Review.