Stephan Schmidheiny

Dr. Stephan Schmidheiny is a Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author whose work has shaped the global conversation on business and sustainability.

In 1992, serving as Principal Advisor for Business and Industry to the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, he introduced the concept of "eco-efficiency" and co-authored Changing Course: A Global Business Perspective on Development and the Environment—an international bestseller translated into 15 languages that helped define the business case for sustainable development. A decade later, he co-authored Walking the Talk: The Business Case for Sustainable Development with leading global CEOs.

Schmidheiny founded the Business Council for Sustainable Development in 1990, which evolved into the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), now representing over 200 major companies worldwide. He serves today as its Honorary President.

His entrepreneurial career includes key roles in the creation of ABB and the revival of the Swiss watch industry through Swatch Group. He later built GrupoNueva in Latin America and established foundations including Fundación Avina and Viva Trust to advance sustainable development across the region.