Thriving and Leading in the Intelligent Age: Mastering change with purpose
Ready to thrive and lead in the Intelligent Age, where AI, innovation, and exponential change define the future?
The Intelligent Age Series
A New Chapter in My Journey – Serving Humanity through Knowledge and Vision
This week marks an important milestone in my life’s journey. I am publishing my new book, Thriving and Leading in the Intelligent Age, which opens a new chapter, not only for me personally but also for the mission that has guided me for more than half a century.
After over 50 years leading the World Economic Forum and working with countless leaders across all sectors of society, I now feel called to dedicate my experience, energy, and reflections to a new purpose: helping humanity understand and navigate the most profound transformation in its history – the transition into the Intelligent Age.
The Intelligent Age is about far more than artificial intelligence. It represents the convergence of human creativity and technological innovation – of AI, biotechnology, quantum science, and global connectivity – that is reshaping every dimension of our existence. It is redefining how we live, work, learn, and even what it means to be human.
The Intelligent Age Series is my contribution to this new era. It is not a philosophical speculation about the distant future but a practical and comprehensive effort to help people, institutions, and societies prepare for what lies ahead.
The first book, Thriving and Leading in the Intelligent Age, lays the foundation. The volumes that follow will explore how business, the economy, education, social innovation, and culture must evolve to remain deeply human in an increasingly intelligent world.
Throughout my life, I have sought to build bridges, between nations, generations, and ideas. Now, I wish to continue this service in a different form: through reflection, education, and inspiration. My goal is to guide both today’s leaders and the next generation toward a future in which technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
The Intelligent Age can be a time of renewal, creativity, and compassion, if we approach it with wisdom and shared purpose. That will be my focus and my mission in the years ahead.
The future will not be shaped by machines. It will be shaped by the humanity we bring to them.
— Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum
About the Schwab Academy
The Schwab Academy builds on Professor Klaus Schwab’s lifelong commitment to learning, leadership, and publishing. It serves as the educational and community platform accompanying his Intelligent Age book series.
The Academy translates the insights of these books into structured lifelong learning and certification programs, connecting readers, universities, and companies in a shared journey of reflection and action.
By transforming ideas into accessible, AI-supported learning experiences, the Academy fosters responsible global leadership and cultivates communities around each theme of the Intelligent Age — from economy and technology to culture and social innovation.
Bridging publishing, learning, and collaboration into one living ecosystem, the Schwab Academy empowers individuals to apply knowledge for societal good and to turn thought leadership into lasting global impact.
Previous Books & Global Recognition
For more than five decades, Professor Klaus Schwab has explored how leadership, technology, and global cooperation shape our shared future. His previous books have inspired leaders, policymakers, and citizens around the world to navigate change with purpose and responsibility.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (2016)
A landmark work that introduced the concept of a new industrial era — one where the physical, digital, and biological worlds converge. Schwab called for inclusive and human-centered innovation to ensure that technological progress benefits all.
Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution (2018)
Building on his earlier vision, this book explores how leaders can harness emerging technologies — from AI to blockchain — with ethical awareness, foresight, and collaboration across sectors and societies.
COVID-19: The Great Reset (2020)
Written in the wake of the global pandemic, this book examines how societies can recover and rebuild more resilient, sustainable, and equitable systems — turning crisis into opportunity for long-term transformation.
Stakeholder Capitalism (2021)
A powerful call for a new economic model centered on long-term value creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability — emphasizing the responsibility of business to serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
Global Recognition
Klaus Schwab’s books have been referenced and discussed across universities, think tanks, and global leadership forums. His ideas on stakeholder capitalism, innovation, and responsible leadership continue to influence public debate and inspire collaboration worldwide.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of our economies.
— Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
Stakeholder Capitalism offers a blueprint for businesses to lead with purpose.
— Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce
Klaus Schwab has consistently anticipated the defining shifts in the global economy — from technology to governance — and challenged leaders to act responsibly.
— Financial Times
A visionary thinker who connects innovation with values, and leadership with long-term purpose.
— Harvard Business Review
Looking Ahead
The Intelligent Age series by Klaus Schwab continues this journey — exploring how artificial intelligence, human purpose, and responsible innovation can shape a new era of leadership, learning, and global collaboration, preparing society for the tremendous transformations ahead.