Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Quest to Educate the World's Children

Description

In 1998 John Wood was a rising executive at Microsoft . Then a trip to Nepal inspired him to set up schools and libraries in the developing world. Fuelled by the same drive that made him a top executive, Wood took his business acumen into the charity sector and created Room to Read, a stunningly effective organisation that has created a network of more than 2,000 schools and libraries throughout Asia and Africa in only six years. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World chronicles John Wood's incredible journey, his first years at Microsoft, his life-changing decision to leave, and the adventure that followed. Wood shares the methods he uses to manage Room to Read, taken from the boardroom of one of the world's most influential companies and applied successfully in a very different setting. His story is an inspirational example of how to create success on your own terms and change your world. After earning an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management, John Wood joined Microsoft in 1991. He quickly ascended to become Microsoft's director of business development in China and the surrounding regions. In 1999, he founded Room to Read, a charity that promotes literacy throughout the developing world. He lives in San Francisco.

John spent most of his career running significant parts of Microsoft's international business. At age 35, he chose to leave Microsoft in the middle of his career to focus on bringing educational opportunities to poor communities. His passion is to combine the lessons he learned in business with the compassion and service ethic found in the non-profit arena. John holds a B.S. from the University of Colorado and a MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

"Wood is obsessed with putting to work the business practices he learnt at Microsoft... melding 'the compassion of Mother Teresa' with 'the focus and tenacity of a blue-chip company'." Financial Times "John's story is a spellbinding tale of transformation! one-third business saga, one-third world travelogue, and one-third human drama -- a 100% great book by a 100% great guy.' Marc Andreessen, Cofounder, Netscape Communications "It's a rare business book that not only provides savvy insights for better business practices but transcends the category altogether, to rank as an infectiously inspiring read." Publishers Weekly "!inspirational, this book is guaranteed to prompt many readers to open their hearts, if not their wallets. " Barbara Jacobs, Booklist