Klaus Schwab

Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 as an independent, mission-driven platform for dialogue and cooperation between leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society.

Under his leadership, the Forum became the foremost global institution promoting public-private collaboration and shaping key concepts such as stakeholder capitalism and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Educated at ETH Zurich, the University of Fribourg, and Harvard University, he holds doctorates in engineering and economics and 20 honorary degrees from leading universities worldwide. For over three decades, he taught business policy at the University of Geneva.

Together with his wife, Hilde, he established the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship to promote innovation and social impact worldwide. In 2025, he launched the Schwab Academy, dedicated to preparing individuals and institutions for leadership, learning, and cooperation in the emerging Intelligent Age.

A recipient of numerous national and international honors, Professor Schwab has devoted his life to advancing global understanding, fostering cooperation, and guiding humanity toward a more prosperous and human-centered future.