Growing up in poverty, Stefan understands what it’s like to struggle. For the past 35 years, he has dedicated himself to uplifting others, currently leading over 150 projects in more than 50 countries.
While working in the hotel industry, he recognised the increasing amount of waste generated. He then initiated programs that could turn this waste into livelihoods, creating income-generating opportunities and building water wells and toilets for villages.
Even before the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals became official in 2015, Stefan was already championing initiatives for No Poverty and Clean Water.
Some of his standout programs include Soap For Hope, which recycles used hotel soaps into new soap bars, helping over a million people across 188 cities; Linens For Life, which upcycles discarded hotel linens into saleable goods, saving millions of litres of water and cutting down CO2 emissions; and CoffeeBriques, which turns used coffee grounds into eco-friendly fuel.
Stefan also makes time to mentor students, support NGOs, and regularly visit impoverished communities to address their needs.
In 2020, he received the Eco-Business A-Lister award and earned a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2024.
