Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson is an American professional speaker, writer, veteran, and former mountaineer known for his humanitarian work and co-founding the Central Asia Institute. After a 1993 expedition to climb K2 in northern Pakistan, Greg Mortenson embarked on a humanitarian career, leading to the co-founding of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) in 1996. Motivated by a promise to the community of Korphe, Mortenson dedicated himself to establishing a school, which became the foundational project for CAI. Co-founded with Jean Hoerni, CAI focused on promoting education and literacy, particularly for girls, in remote mountain regions across Pakistan and Afghanistan.

His commitment to global education extended to founding the educational charity Pennies for Peace, further mobilizing support for literacy initiatives. Mortenson is also a celebrated co-author of two New York Times Bestsellers: Three Cups of Tea, released in 2006, and Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, published in 2009. These works brought widespread attention to the challenges and successes of his humanitarian efforts. Between 2011 and 2012, Mortenson’s career encountered a turning point following accusations of financial irregularities within CAI and factual inaccuracies in his published works.

As a professional speaker and writer, his extensive career has underscored the critical importance of humanitarian aid and education in conflict-affected regions, leaving a lasting impact on global literacy initiatives.