Learn English – Single word for ‘being one step ahead of others’

single-word-requests

I am looking for synonyms as single words having the meaning of 'being one step ahead of others'.

Pacesetter is a common term for someone who is in the position you describe.

pace·set·ter noun \ˈpās-ˌse-tər\ : a person who runs ahead of the other runners in a race in order to set a pace

as in, a company that has been a pacesetter in its field for offering health care benefits to employees