Ludwig Thiede

Ludwig Thiede is the founder and Managing Director of the non-profit educational organisation LifeTeachUs. He launched the initiative with the vision of connecting schools more closely with society and equipping young people with practical knowledge for life. Today, LifeTeachUs brings volunteers from a wide range of professions and backgrounds into schools as LifeTeachers — stepping in when regular lessons are cancelled or enriching the curriculum with practical, real-world experience.

Driven by the belief that education is not the responsibility of teachers alone, Ludwig Thiede advocates for an education system that benefits from the knowledge and experience of people across society. His focus is on making civic engagement as accessible as possible while providing schools with straightforward and effective support. Under his leadership, LifeTeachUs has grown into a nationwide educational organisation, delivering thousands of LifeLessons, working with hundreds of partner schools, and establishing numerous collaborations with companies, foundations, and associations.

In recognition of its innovative approach, LifeTeachUs was named Didacta Start-up of the Year 2026 and received the German Brand Award 2026 for Best Purpose of the Year, among other distinctions. Ludwig Thiede regularly speaks about the future of education, social entrepreneurship, and the role of social responsibility in building an education system fit for the future.