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Stephan SchmidheinySwiss industrialist, billionaire and founder of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Date of Birth: 29.10.1947
Country:  Switzerland |
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Biography of Stephan Schmidheiny
Stephan Schmidheiny is a Swiss industrialist, billionaire, and founder of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). He is also the organizer of the AVINA foundation, through which he supports numerous vital projects in Latin America. Schmidheiny serves on the boards of the International Institute for Economics (IIE) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). He currently holds the position of Honorary Chairman of the WBCSD.
Early Life and Education
Stephan Schmidheiny was born and raised in Switzerland. He received his education in the country and obtained a degree in jurisprudence.
Career
Schmidheiny began his career at the age of 25 as an employee of his family's construction company. After four years of successful work, he was appointed as the company's president. He later expanded his interests to other sectors such as forestry, banking, electronics, optics, and industrial equipment. He became a member of the boards of directors of leading companies such as ABB, Nestle, Swatch, and UBS.
In the 1980s, Schmidheiny founded FUNDES, an organization that supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in several Latin American countries. In 1990, he was appointed as the chief advisor for business and industry to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
To improve his own business practices, Schmidheiny created a forum where leading businessmen from around the world could address environmental issues. This forum eventually evolved into the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), which currently brings together 160 of the most important companies in the world. Stephan Schmidheiny serves as its Honorary Chairman.
Contributions and Personal Life
In 1992, Schmidheiny published the book "Changing Course: A Global Business Perspective on Development," which became highly popular. During the same period, he served as the chief business advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. He also organized the AVINA foundation, through which he supports numerous vital projects in Latin America.
In 2003, Schmidheiny stepped back from his leadership roles in GrupoNueva and AVINA. He now spends his time traveling, participating in sports competitions, and playing the piano. He is also an avid reader, particularly interested in philosophy, history, and culture.
