Klaus Schwab was born in Germany in 1938. He holds two doctoral degrees, one in mechanical engineering and another in economics and social sciences, and started his professional life as the youngest professor at the University of Geneva. He is the recipient of numerous awards and holds honorary professorships and doctorates from universities around the world. Schwab founded the Forum in 1971. In 1998, he and his wife Hilde created the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, which supports social initiatives that significantly improve people’s lives and can be reproduced on a global scale. In 2014, hoping to integrate more young people into global decision-making processes, Schwab established the Forum of Young Global Leaders for leaders under the age of 40. Seven years later, he created the Global Shapers Community, for potential leaders between the ages of 20 and 30.