pathfinder

/ˈpæθˌfaɪndər/
noun
  1. A person or thing that discovers a way through unknown or difficult territory, especially in exploration or pioneering.
    • The scout acted as a pathfinder, marking the safest route through the swamp.
    • As a pathfinder in the field of robotics, she developed the first autonomous navigation system.
    • The Lewis and Clark expedition relied on Native American pathfinders to navigate the wilderness.
  2. A person or organization that leads the way in a new area of knowledge, activity, or technology; a pioneer.
    • Marie Curie was a pathfinder in the study of radioactivity.
    • The company became a pathfinder in renewable energy, building the first large-scale solar farm.
    • Young entrepreneurs today are pathfinders in the digital economy, creating apps that change how we live.