Anousheh Ansari is the CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation, the world leader in designing and operating incentive competitions to solve humanity’s grand challenges. Along with her family, Ansari sponsored the organization’s first competition, the Ansari XPRIZE, a $10 million competition that ignited a new era for commercial spaceflight. She captured global headlines when she embarked on an 11-day space expedition, becoming the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space.

Ansari serves on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Council and has received numerous honors, including the WEF Young Global Leader, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and STEM Leadership Hall of Fame. She is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and serves on the boards of Jabil, Peace First, and other not-for-profit organizations focused on STEM education and youth empowerment. On September 18, 2006, Ansari made history as the first female private space explorer aboard the International Space Station.

As a successful serial entrepreneur, Anousheh co-founded and chaired Prodea Systems and previously co-founded, served as CEO, and chaired Telecom Technologies, Inc. An active advocate for world-changing technologies and social entrepreneurship, Ansari continues to empower social entrepreneurs globally through her work with organizations such as ASHOKA and XPRIZE.