Jeff Skoll

Founder & Chairman, Skoll Foundation

Jeff Skoll is a philanthropist and social entrepreneur. As founder and chairman of the Skoll Foundation, Participant Media and the Skoll Global Threats Fund, he is bringing life to his vision of a sustainable, peaceful and prosperous world. Jeff was the first President of eBay, developing the company’s inaugural business plan and leading its successful initial public offering. He also pioneered creation of the eBay Foundation through the allocation of pre-IPO shares. In 1999, Jeff launched the Skoll Foundation – the world’s leading foundation for social entrepreneurship – and in 2004 he founded Participant Media. Participant’s films are accompanied by social action and advocacy campaigns to engage the public, and its 43 films to date have collectively received a total of 7 Academy Awards® and 35 nominations. Some of the films include, Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth, The Kite Runner, The Cove, Countdown to Zero, Waiting for Superman, and Food, Inc. In 2009, Skoll founded the Skoll Global Threats Fund. Its initial focus will be on five global issues that, if unchecked, could bring the world to its knees: climate change, water scarcity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East conflict. Skoll holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Skoll was previously a member of the 21st Century Council, LA Committee, and The WorldPost Advisory Council.