Jeff Skoll

Founder and Chairman, Skoll Foundation
Founder and Chairman, Participant Media

From his start as first President of eBay, Jeff Skoll has had a track record of launching businesses that result in positive social change. At eBay, he developed the business plan that the company still follows today, creating entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals around the world. In 1998 he inspired the company to take an active role in philanthropy, pioneering creation of the eBay Foundation through the allocation of pre-IPO shares. This innovation sparked similar initiatives by other young companies in high-technology hubs across the United States.

In 1999 Jeff created the Skoll Foundation, which takes an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy by investing in, connecting and celebrating the world's most promising social entrepreneurs in order to effect lasting, positive social change worldwide. Through its Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship, the foundation provides financing and complementary services to leading social entrepreneurs whose innovations are poised for growth and replication.

In 2004 Jeff founded Participant Productions (now Participant Media), a global media company that produces entertainment to inspire and compel social change. Participant's 2005 films, including Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana and North Country, collectively garnered 11 Academy Award nominations. One of its 2006 releases, An Inconvenient Truth, has been at the forefront in driving an unprecedented grassroots commitment to address climate change and has received two Academy Awards.

In April 2005 Jeff partnered with Silicon Valley entrepreneur Kamran Elahian to launch The Gandhi Project, which dubbed the epic film Gandhi into Arabic in order to screen it throughout the Palestinian territories. Working with nongovernmental organization partners, The Gandhi Project promotes nonviolent resistance and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi through screenings combined with discussion. Plans are under way to expand the project throughout the Arab world.

Today Skoll serves as Chairman of Participant Media and the Skoll Foundation and resides in California. In 2006 he was named as one of TIME Magazine's 100 People of the Year.

Speeches and Editorials by Jeff Skoll