John Goodwin, Executive Chairman of the Learning Economy Foundation, offers an insightful examination of how emergent technologies — particularly verified credentials and digital credentials — are set to transform global education and employment systems.
Through his role, John advocates for leveraging technology as a public good to promote equity, mobility, and individual agency, especially in underserved populations.
The Learning Economy Foundation, unlike traditional philanthropic organizations, focuses on developing open-source technologies and infrastructure that others can build upon, facilitating systemic change and innovation.
A major theme in the conversation is the role of verified digital credentials, which allow individuals to hold digital versions of diplomas and certificates that carry the same credibility as traditional paper equivalents. These credentials have wide-ranging applications, from employment and education to areas like property rights, and aim to simplify and secure the transfer of qualifications across borders and systems.
John emphasizes that the foundation is particularly focused on addressing gaps in the current education systems that fail to serve impoverished populations, especially in developing countries. By enabling the use of low-cost digital solutions, they hope to make a meaningful impact where educational inequity is most prevalent.
John’s past experience as CEO of the LEGO Foundation and his work with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a UN initiative, further illustrates his commitment to systemic change in education. He acknowledges the inherent challenges of shifting long-established systems but stresses the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration to drive meaningful progress.
Systemic change, as John learned during his tenure at LEGO, cannot be achieved in isolation; it requires the cooperation of governments, educational institutions, businesses, and technologists working together toward a common goal.
The conversation also touches on the importance of serendipity in this process. John highlights that while planning and strategy are vital, unexpected opportunities and collaborations often become key turning points. His reflections on embracing flexibility and agility offer a refreshing counterpoint to rigid planning in a field that demands innovation.
John’s vision for business education is also explored. As a board member of PRME, he champions the integration of responsible management practices into business school curricula, noting that one in three graduates globally come from business-related fields. He sees future leaders as vital to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advocating for a broader understanding of success beyond profit maximization, focusing on the social and environmental impact of business decisions. John argues that the pace of change must accelerate to meet the urgency of the global challenges laid out by the SDGs.
About John Goodwin
John Goodwin joined the Learning Economy Foundation (LEF) in June 2022 as the Executive Chairman to support the highly talented executives and Board of Directors in sharpening the Foundation’s focus on how to scale and expand its social impact. LEF seeks to improve equity and mobility for learners that are poorly supported by existing education and employment systems. It does this through the development of open-sourced technological solutions designed to address the identified shortfalls.
John was introduced to the LEF executives when he was the CEO of the LEGO Foundation a position he assumed in April 2017. This career shift into this full-time charitable role to enable him to combine his business skills with his lifelong passion for philanthropy and driving positive social impact. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to influencing parents, teachers and policy makers to adopt learning through play as the most powerful means for children to acquire the broad suite of skills needed to thrive in today’s world – and to provide the evidence and advocacy to support it.
Prior to being appointed CEO of the LEGO Foundation, John held a position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the LEGO Group with responsibilities comprising finance, corporate IT, corporate social responsibility, external relations, corporate business services, legal affairs and procurement.
Before joining the LEGO Group, John served as a President in Procter & Gamble where he was responsible for leading a variety of global businesses covering Pet Nutrition, Electrical Appliances and Food Snacks. Earlier in his career, he conducted a wide range of finance leadership positions in the company, including Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, New Business Ventures, Investor Relations and Strategic Development.
In addition to his role at LEF, John is a senior advisor and Board member of the United Nations Principle of Responsible Management Initiative as well as the founder of a US based social impact venture fund, Kre8 Impact, that supports and assists social entrepreneurial organizations to scale their impact.
John holds a 1St class degree in Mathematical Engineering from the University of Loughborough and is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He resides in Park City, Utah and is married to Elizabeth Goodwin, a former primary school teacher, with whom he has three grown children.
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