Ali Mahlodji is an inspiring entrepreneur, encourager, inspiration and guide who is committed to the future of work, education and social change worldwide. He gives young people guidance, leaders clarity and helps people to follow their inner call.
Born in Tehran in 1981, Ali Mahlodji came to Austria as a refugee child. There he grew up in an asylum home. His life was anything but straightforward – he dropped out of school and worked in over 40 different jobs before finding his own path.
After working as a manager in an international corporation, he turned his back on a traditional career, became a teacher and eventually founded whatchado, Europe’s leading career guidance platform. His goal: to inspire young people to discover their own strengths and show them that every path in life is individual.
“If I manage to change even one person’s perspective, I have saved that person’s world view and thus their future.”
Today, Ali is a sought-after keynote speaker, EU Youth Ambassador, Future Designer and mentor. In his more than 140 keynotes a year, he talks about mindful leadership, the future of work, new work, generational change, diversity and education. He supports companies, managers and organizations in transformation processes and helps to establish new ways of thinking in business and society.
Ali Mahlodji Lecture topics
- Leading new generations – Mindful Leadership & new leadership culture: How can leaders act with more mindfulness and empathy in a changing world?
- Diversity & Inclusion Unplugged: How companies can use diversity as a competitive advantage. In this presentation, Ali Mahlodji will show you how to create a culture of diversity and inclusion in your company, break down prejudices and thus drive creativity.
- New Work & Employer Branding: What are the challenges in the modern working world? Why traditional career paths have had their day and how we are shaping new working models.
- Mindful Leadership & Ownership: How to practice mindfulness and self-responsibility in a hectic working environment in order to be able to act as a focused leader. Achieve clarity, composure and sovereignty in your leadership role.
- Entrepreneurship Realtalk: What are the realities and pitfalls of entrepreneurship? Ali Mahlodji shares honest insights, practical tips and inspiration to achieve entrepreneurial goals.
- Focus & Simplicity in Business: How to become more efficient and therefore more productive. Ali Mahlodji shows you how to achieve sustainable results by setting priorities and using time more effectively. Success through clarity and efficiency.
- The future of work & education: What are the skills of the future? How can companies attract and retain talent? Ali Mahlodji talks about how the world of work is changing and which skills will be in demand in the future.
“I believe that every person has everything they need within them and that no person is a flaw in the system.”
As the founder of futureOne, he helps companies to develop sustainable structures and build bridges between generations. With his platform futureRocka, he has already inspired over half a million young people worldwide.
Ali is a UNICEF Honorary Representative, has received numerous international awards for his social commitment and invests 50% of his time in voluntary projects, including in schools, prisons and social institutions. The European Union appointed him EU Youth Ambassador for Life. In 2022, he received the ANDREUS PEACE AWARD for his work. In the same year, Ali was made an Honorary Ambassador of the MIRNO MORE Peace Fleet, which also presented him with the ACHIEVERS Award – something only ten people around the world had ever received.
Ali Mahlodji lives in Vienna with his wife and two daughters and says of himself: “I’m actually a flaw in the system.”