Saadia Zahidi

Saadia Zahidi is the Managing Director at the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she leads the Centre for the New Economy and Society and oversees the Global Communications Group. In her role, she collaborates with leaders across business, government, and civil society to promote economic opportunity and equitable growth. Zahidi has been instrumental in producing key reports such as the Future of Jobs, Global Gender Gap, and Global Risks Reports.13

Education and Career

Zahidi holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Smith College, a Master's in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of Geneva, and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University. She began her career at WEF in 2004 as an economist and became the youngest managing director in 2018.13

Publications and Recognition

She authored Fifty Million Rising, which explores the rise of working women in the Muslim world and was longlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year in 2018. Zahidi has received several accolades, including being named one of BBC's 100 Women in 2013 and 2014, and winning the inaugural FT/McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize for young authors in 2014.145

Personal Background

Born in Pakistan, Zahidi is also a Swiss citizen and is fluent in four languages. She has traveled extensively, visiting over 70 countries.3 Her work focuses on critical issues such as gender parity, economic development, education, and skills training.24