2022 Nobel Prize nominee, Keith Krach is a Silicon Valley innovator and dedicated public servant. He founded and led several category-creating companies—including Ariba, the world’s largest B2B e-commerce network, which transacts $3.7 trillion annually; and DocuSign, inventors of digital transaction management, serving 1 million companies, and over a billion users. He served as Chairman of Purdue University, and as International President of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
As Under Secretary of State, Krach built the Clean Network Alliance of Democracies to defeat the CCP’s masterplan to control 5G; spearheaded the largest onshoring in US history to secure the semiconductor supply chain; strengthened ties with Taiwan by becoming the highest-ranking State Department official to visit in 41 years, and orchestrating the Lee Economic Prosperity
Partnership; drove divestment in CCP companies to protect US investors from unknowingly financing Chinese military buildup; and mobilized action against CCP’s ethnic/religious genocide in Xinjiang. As a result of these and other national security initiatives, Krach and his family were sanctioned by the CCP.
For his work securing 5G, his advocacy for Taiwan and his actions on behalf of the persecuted Uyghur minority, Krach was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Today, he serves as chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, a bipartisan institute devoted to applying the lessons learned from the Clean Network to a broad set of other critical technologies that must be safeguarded to protect our freedom.
“What matters most in life is what you do when nobody’s looking.“
“Ego is your enemy, and humility is your friend.“
“Success needs no explanation. Failure needs no alibi.“
“You can have the greatest strategy in the world, but if you can’t execute, you’ll fail every time loud & proud.“
“People can deny your logic, but they cannot deny your enthusiasm.“
“The definition of charisma is making someone feel like they are the only one in a crowded room.“
“The more you face your fears, the braver you become.“
“When life hands you a bag of sour lemons, the objective of the game is to turn’em into sweet lemonade.“
“A transformational leader is a person who challenges the status quo, mobilizing and empowering people to achieve a noble cause—one that will have a profound, far-reaching impact. This definition fits Krach to a T.”
Keith Krach
Chairman & co-founder Krach Institute for Tech DIplomacy; Former U.S. Under Secretary of State; Former Chairman & CEO DocuSign and Ariba