Saadia Zahidi is Managing Director at the World Economic Forum. Her interests include the future of work, education and skills, income inequality, and using big data for public good.

Saadia has held many roles with the World Economic Forum, including Economist; Head of the Gender Parity Programme; Head of Civil Society; Head of Employment and Gender Initiatives; and Head of Education, Gender, and Work. She currently serves as Head of the Centre for the New Economy and Society and is a member of the Managing Board.

Saadia has co-authored Forum reports on Human Capital, Gender Gaps, and Future of Jobs and is the author of “Fifty Million Rising: The New Generation of Working Women Transforming the Muslim World.” She has received numerous honors and awards, including BBC’s 100 Women (2013 and 2014), the Financial Times/McKinsey inaugural Bracken Bower Prize (2014), and was longlisted for FT/Mckinsey Business Book of the Year (2018).

Saadia received a BA in Economics from Smith College, aMPhil in International Economics from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, and a MPA from Harvard University.