John Wood

John Wood is the Founder of Room to Read, an organization committed to transforming the lives of children in developing countries through literacy and gender equality in education. Since its inception, Room to Read has reached over 16.6 million children across 16 countries. At the age of 35, Wood left his role as Director of Business Development for Microsoft’s Greater China region to establish Room to Read. Nearly two decades later, his initiative has expanded to over 30,000 schools and communities, significantly impacting millions of lives through educational opportunities.

Wood authored the award-winning memoir "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World," which details his decision to leave his corporate career and focus on increasing global literacy and education. This memoir has won acclaim for its inspirational message and was selected by Amazon as one of the Top Ten Business Narratives of 2006. It has been translated into 20 languages and was featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Wood's third book, "Purpose, Incorporated: Turning Cause Into Your Competitive Advantage," released in February 2018, argues for integrating purpose with profitability in business practices. It highlights companies successfully aligning these goals and contributes its profits towards opening libraries through Room to Read.

Among his numerous accolades, Wood has been recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the world’s 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and has spoken multiple times at the Clinton Global Initiative. He is also a five-time recipient of Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist Award. Time Magazine honored him with the “Asian Heroes” Award, and he was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. The Tribeca Film Festival's Disruptive Innovation Awards acknowledged him as a Lifetime Achievement Honoree, and in 2014, he received the prestigious World’s Children’s Prize from Queen Silvia of Sweden, often referred to as the Children’s Nobel Prize.

Wood holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado, and has been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions including McGill University and the University of San Francisco. He has served on several advisory boards, including the Clinton Global Initiative, and currently contributes to the advisory boards of Global Citizen Year, New Story, and Possible Health. Recognized as the “Andrew Carnegie of the developing world” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Wood’s commitment to educational access and equality continues to influence countless individuals globally.