Co-Founders
Global Dignity was founded by HKH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland, and Mr. John Hope Bryant of the US.
HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
His Royal Highness is heir to the Norwegian throne and son of His Majesty King Harald and Her Majesty Queen Sonja. He served in the Royal Norwegian Navy and graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995. The following year, he served on board a patrol boat. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
He also attended the Foreign Ministry’s one-year trainee course. The Crown Prince has an extensive number of official engagements in Norway. He is patron of various Norwegian associations, including the Norwegian International Film Festival, the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. The Crown Prince is Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, where he particularly focuses on promoting the Millennium Developmental Goals.
Pekka Himanen
Pekka Himanen is a Philosopher and currently teaches as a Professor at the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology. He previously was Director of the Berkeley Centre for the Information Society.
His works have been translated into 20 languages. He has recently acted as an Adviser to the Finnish Parliament and President as well as leading international organizations on the issues of global information societies and ethics. Himanen currently works at the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, a joint institute of the Helsinki University of Technology and Helsinki University.
John Hope Bryant
Founder, Chairman, and CEO of financial literacy empowerment nonprofit Operation HOPE, John Hope Bryant is known as one of the foremost authorities on poverty eradication around the world. An advisor to the last three sitting U.S. presidents, a thought leader, public speaker, and an innovator in the business of empowerment, Bryant is no stranger to poverty. Born and raised in South Los Angeles’ notorious Compton, CA he was homeless for six months by the age of 18.
Finding his way out of poverty, he has dedicated his life to leading the way for others. He currently serves on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and is an internationally-recognized leader in transforming low-wealth communities into self-sustaining neighborhoods. Bryant is a prolific writer, and best-selling author of Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World. He is a member of USA Today’s CEO panel and a regular contributor to the Huffington Post. Bryant has received over 400 awards and citations for his advocacy work, including Oprah Winfrey’s Use Your Life Award.