2. John's career at Microsoft spanned 1991 to 1999,
where he ran significant parts of Microsoft's
international business, as the Director of
Marketing for the Asia-Pacific Division, Director
of the Internet Customer Unit for Microsoft
Australia, and Director of Marketing for Microsoft
Australia.
3. In 1998, John took a vacation that changed his life.
Trekking through a remote Himalayan village, he
struck up conversation with a schoolteacher, who
invited John to visit his school. There, John discovered
that the few books available were so precious that
they were kept under lock and key - to protect them
from the children! Fewer than 20 books, all
backpacker cast-aways, were available for more than
450 students.
What started with a simple email requesting friends
donate used books has grown into Room to Read, an
award-winning non-profit that over the past eleven
years has established over 12,500 libraries, donated
and published 10 million books, built over 1,500
schools, and supported more than 13,500 girls so they
can graduate from secondary school with the skills
they need to succeed. In total, Room to Read has
impacted the lives 6 million children.
4. Established over 12,500 libraries, donated and
published 10 million books, built over 1,500 schools,
and supported more than 13,500 girls so they can
graduate from secondary school with the skills they
need to succeed. In total, Room to Read has impacted
the lives 6 million children.
5. John has received countless honors for his work, including recognition as a "Young
Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum and as one of Time Magazine's "Asian
Heroes." He has also been selected as a "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic
Forum and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. The Public Broadcasting
Corporation (PBS) named him one of "America’s Great Leaders" and he was selected
by Barron’s as one of the "25 Best Givers" in 2009 and 2010, ranking 11th and 9th on the
list, respectively.
Room to Read has won UNESCO’s 2011 Confucius Prize for Literacy recognizing
excellence and inspiration in the literacy field. It is a five-time winner of Fast Company
Magazine's Social Capitalist Award, a recipient of the Skoll Foundation Award for
Social Innovation, and a recipient of Draper Richards Fellowship for social
entrepreneurs. For fiscal efficiency, Room to Read has been awarded Charity
Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for sound fiscal management for 5 years in a row.
John holds a Bachelors of Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Colorado,
and a Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of
Management at Northwestern University. He lives and works in New York, NY.
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6. DONE BY: jasper Onn, Jia nan, charles louis,
Nathaneal Mah
