March 30, 2015 – Andreas Widmer, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Catholic University of America’s School of Business & Economics, will deliver a free public lecture titled “Investing for the Poor vs. Investing in the Poor: A Heart or Mind for the Poor” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, in the Burke Auditorium at King’s College.

The lecture is the keynote address of this year’s Global Landscapes Conference at King’s. The conference, which will be held April 16-17, brings renowned speakers to campus and traditionally highlights scholarship by leading academics, including presentations by King’s faculty and students. This year’s theme, “The World in 3-D: Democracy, Demography, and Demand,” will be examined by scholars, students, and community leaders. 

Widmer was previously the co-founder of SEVEN Fund, a philanthropic organization promoting enterprise solutions to poverty. He works closely with top entrepreneurs, investors, and faith leaders around the world to foster enterprise solutions to poverty and to promote virtuous business practices.

He is an advisor to the Zermatt Summit, an annual business leadership event that strives to humanize globalization. He also serves as an advisor to Transforming Business, a research and development project at the University of Cambridge. He is on the Board of Directors at the New Paradigm Research Fund, Virtual Research Associates, The World Youth Alliance, and The Carpenter's Fund, a senior collateral lender to small and medium size businesses and projects in emerging markets.

Widmer is a seasoned business executive with experience in high-tech and international business strategy consulting and economic development. He was an executive in residence at Highland Capital Partners, a venture capital firm. He served as CEO of OTF Group and helped lead Eprise Corporation, Dragon Systems, and FTP Software. He has worked extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and has brought more than 100 leading-edge technology products to market.

Widmer is the author of “The Pope & The CEO: Pope John Paul II’s Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard,” a new book exploring leadership lessons that Widmer learned serving as Pontifical Swiss Guard from 1986-1988, protecting Pope John Paul II. He has authored articles and been featured in various business publications, including "The Financial Times,” “The Wall Street Journal Live,” “Huffington Post,” and “Fortune Magazine.”

He holds two business degrees from Switzerland, plus a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Merrimack College and a master’s degree in Ministry from St. John’s Seminary in Boston.

King’s Global Landscapes Conference is sponsored by the William G. McGowan School of Business, McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center. For more information on the conference, visit the GLC website at http://www.kings.edu/glc.

The Burke Auditorium is located on the first floor of the William G. McGowan School of Business on the corner of North River and West Union streets. Parking will be available in on-campus lots. For more information, please contact Dr. Bernard Prusak, director, McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, at (570) 208-5900, ext. 5689.

Andreas Widmer

Andreas Widmer