Andreas E. Widmer is an Associate Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business, where he has been shaping minds since the fall of 2012. He also serves as the director of the Art & Carlyse Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship.
Andreas co-founded The SEVEN Fund, a philanthropic organization that promotes enterprise solutions to poverty. His extensive experience as a business executive spans high-tech, international business strategy, consulting, and economic development. He has held leadership roles at the OTF Group, Eprise Corporation, Dragon Systems, and FTP Software. His work has taken him across the globe, from the United States to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, leading teams to bring over 100 leading-edge technology products to market.
As an author, Andreas has explored the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, and spirituality. His book, The Pope & The CEO: Pope Saint John Paul II’s Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard, draws from his experiences serving as a Swiss Guard for Pope John Paul II and his subsequent career in business. His latest book, The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship, Creating Enduring Value, released in April 2022 under the Matt Holt Imprint at BenBella Books.
Andreas's contributions extend to various publications, including chapters in In the River They Swim: Essays from Around the World on Enterprise Solutions to Poverty and Free Markets and the Culture of Common Good in Springer's Ethical Economy series. He has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Financial Times, CNN, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and Bloomberg News.
His advisory roles include the Zermatt Summit, Transforming Business at the University of Cambridge, the Archbridge Institute, St. Jerome Institute High School, New Paradigm Fund, and SENT Ventures. He is also an advisor to the Rising Tide Foundation in Switzerland. In recognition of his contributions to the Church and society, Andreas was awarded an honorary doctorate by St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia in 2018 and the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester Pope and Martyr by Pope Francis in January 2024.
A former Pontifical Swiss Guard (1986-1988), Andreas holds two business degrees from Switzerland, a B.S. in International Business from Merrimack College, and an M.A. from St. John’s Seminary in Boston. A dual citizen of Switzerland and the United States, he is fluent in English, German, Italian, and French.
Andreas argues that we have lost sight of the human person as the center of the economy, and that investing in employees is in fact the only opportunity with infinite returns. He considers his biggest accomplishment in life to have built a great marriage together with his wife, Michelle, and his greatest joy is seeing the character of their teenage son, Eli, develop and grow.
Education
- B.S. in International Business from Merrimack College
- M.A. from St. John’s Seminary in Boston
Expertise
- Entrepreneurship
- Strategy
- Enterprise Solutions to Poverty
- Management
Languages
- English
- German
- Italian
- French
Courses Taught
- MGT/ENT 118 Vocation to Business
- Directed Study
- ENT 472 The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship
Publications
Books
Faithful Measure: Gauging Awareness of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine. The Catholic University of America School of Business and Economics: April 20, 2015. https://www.createspace.com/5423191
The Pope & The CEO, John Paul II’s Leadership Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard. Emmaus Road Publishing: September 1, 2011. https://stpaulcenter.com/product/the-pope-the-ceo/
The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship, Creating Enduring Value, Matt Holt (April 5, 2022) https://andreas-widmer.com/book/
Chapters in Books
Foreword to Nothing is Free. Inhance Press: 2013. https://www.amazon.com/NOTHING-FREE-Dave-Geenens/dp/0976821028
“The Profit Obsession” in Free Markets and the Culture of Common Good. Springer: February 2012. http://www.springer.com/social+sciences/applied+ethics/book/978-94-007-2989-6
“My Faith in Capitalism” in In The River They Swim. Templeton Press: May, 2009.
“A Mind For The Poor” in In The River They Swim. Templeton Press May, 2009.
“Why Michael Novak Was a True American Gentleman.” Crux, February 19, 2017. https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2017/02/michael-novak-true-american-gentleman/
Articles
"Freedom from or Freedom For?" 2017 Index of Culture & Opportunity, July 20, 2017. http://www.heritage.org/2017-index-culture-and-opportunity/freedom-or-freedom
“Michael Novak Taught a Generation of Catholics That Capitalism can be Virtuous.” The Washington Post, February 18, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/02/18/michael-novak-taught-a-generation-of-catholics-that-capitalism-can-be-virtuous/?utm_term=.d2aec188345b
“What Makes Business Leadership Catholic?” Legatus, February 2, 2017.
“Of Means and Ends: The Financialization and Regulation of Health Care.” The Linacre Quarterly 83 (2016): 382-386. http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/xDKJhSQkyGWDUu6bWTsF/full
“Pope Francis, an entrepreneur who invests in the poor.” Crux, December 2, 2016. https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2016/12/02/pope-francis-entrepreneur-invests-poor/
“Social Responsibility and the Corporate Context,” Legatus, February 1, 2016.
“Human Ecology Isn’t What You Think It Is.” The Compass, January 21, 2016. http://blog.business.cua.edu/2016/01/what-is-human-ecology.html
“Pope Francis and a Third Way for Environmental Stewardship.” The Stream, June 21, 2015. https://stream.org/pope-francis-third-way-environmental-stewardship/
“Ten Years After His Death, Saint John Paul II’s Greatest Impact is Still Ahead.” The Stream, April 2, 2015. https://stream.org/ten-years-death-saint-john-paul-iis-greatest-impact-still-ahead/
Book Review in The Independent Winter 2022/23 edition on "The Economics of the Parables" By Robert Sirico - https://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?id=1815
Religion & Liberty Online - Acton Institution : "50 Years On, Cellphones Have Shown the Way for Inclusive Global Progress" April 3. 2023 https://rlo.acton.org/archives/124357-50-years-on-cellphones-have-shown-the-way-for-inclusive-global-progress.html
Free Markets need Principled Entrepreneurs - Schweizer Monat - May 2023 (English and German) https://schweizermonat.ch/free-markets-need-principled-entrepreneurs/
"The Art of business: Cheers to the creator of box wine" Fortune Magazine December 31, 2021 https://fortune.com/2021/12/31/the-art-of-business-cheers-to-the-creator-of-box-wine-food-business-entrepreneurs-andreas-widmer/
Presentations
"International Solidarity," USCCB Convocation in Orlando, FL, July 2017
New Pathways for Development in Africa, Acton University, June, 2017
Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation, Action University, June, 2017
Economic Freedom, Social Entrepreneurship and Poverty Intervention, 2016 International Congress Business Initiative in the Fight Against Poverty, May 12 2016. http://centesimusannus.org/convegno/docs/final-paper-by-andreas-widmer---7-giugno.pdf
The Making of a Master Piece, CUA Convocation, September 16, 2015.
Investing for the Poor vs. Investing in the Poor, Kings College, April 16, 2015. https://www.kings.edu/news_and_events/widmer
Andreas Widmer at the University of Steubenville, March 15, 2015.
Doing Business: A Dog-Eat-Dog World?, St. Rita Lent Series, March 7, 2014. http://www.crossroadsculturalcenter.org/events/2013/11/22/doing-business-a-dog-eat-dog-world.html
http://www.newyorkencounter.org/2016-doing-business-in-uncharted-waters/
Talks
The Pope, a Gorilla and the meaning of Work - OSV Talks spring 2023 https://www.osvtalks.com/talks/the-pope-a-gorilla-and-the-meaning-of-work/
Mendoza School of Business Centenary Conference - "What have we learned?" https://mendoza.nd.edu/event/centenary-conference/