Pierre Dubuc

CEO at OpenClassrooms

Pierre Dubuc is the co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, one of the largest global education-to-employment platform providers, with 355,000 students across 140 countries, thousands of full-time diploma students, and hundreds of corporate customers. OpenClassrooms is a private, B-Corp-certified distance-learning organization registered with the Board of Education in Paris, France, accredited as a higher education institution by the French state.


Pierre met Mathieu Nebra, the co-founder of the company, in 2001; both were teenagers then, curious about coding and computers. In 2013, after years of promoting online education and several pivots, they created OpenClassrooms, headquartered in Paris, France. They later founded OpenClassrooms Inc, a registered apprenticeship provider approved by the US DOL and a postsecondary educational institution.


OpenClassrooms is making education accessible to all by delivering fully online work-based learning programs and internationally recognized degrees. With a unique approach based on mastery learning, hands-on projects, and individualized mentoring, the platform promotes employability for all, specifically in today’s and tomorrow’s most sought-after jobs and competencies, like tech, data, IT, business, etc.


Among numerous other distinctions, Pierre Dubuc was featured among the “30 under 30” by Forbes magazine and selected in the 2020 Young Leaders program of the French-American Foundation.  In 2021, he was distinguished by the Ordre National du Mérite by the French government.

2023 Back to School Featured Speaker
2024 Back to School

Pierre Dubuc

CEO at OpenClassrooms

Pierre Dubuc is the co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, one of the largest global education-to-employment platform providers, with 355,000 students across 140 countries, thousands of full-time diploma students, and hundreds of corporate customers. OpenClassrooms is a private, B-Corp-certified distance-learning organization registered with the Board of Education in Paris, France, accredited as a higher education institution by the French state.


Pierre met Mathieu Nebra, the co-founder of the company, in 2001; both were teenagers then, curious about coding and computers. In 2013, after years of promoting online education and several pivots, they created OpenClassrooms, headquartered in Paris, France. They later founded OpenClassrooms Inc, a registered apprenticeship provider approved by the US DOL and a postsecondary educational institution.


OpenClassrooms is making education accessible to all by delivering fully online work-based learning programs and internationally recognized degrees. With a unique approach based on mastery learning, hands-on projects, and individualized mentoring, the platform promotes employability for all, specifically in today’s and tomorrow’s most sought-after jobs and competencies, like tech, data, IT, business, etc.


Among numerous other distinctions, Pierre Dubuc was featured among the “30 under 30” by Forbes magazine and selected in the 2020 Young Leaders program of the French-American Foundation.  In 2021, he was distinguished by the Ordre National du Mérite by the French government.

2023 Back to School Featured Speaker
2024 Back to School
2024 New York, 'Back to School' Summit Day 2
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
11:30 am

Accelerating Apprenticeships

The apprenticeship model is experiencing a global renaissance, with new applications of this stakeholder-collaborative, work integrated learning approach, particularly into 'new' professions. However, many barriers to scaling apprenticeships beyond their traditional remit remain firmly in place. This panel will explore those barriers and highlight where progress is being made, and the innovative models that are breaking new ground to accelerate apprenticeships.
2023 New York, 'Back to School' Summit
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
4:30 pm

Powering the transformation of U.S and Global education and workforce systems

Here in the US, Jobs for the Future recently announced it’s New North Star Goal: In 10 Years, 75 Million People Facing Systemic Barriers to Advancement Will Work in Quality Jobs. Less than half of employed workers in the U.S. are in quality jobs; JFF aims to improve the number with support from a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit sector changemakers. Meanwhile, OpenClassrooms, based in Europe delivers upskilling to learners in over 180 countries. In OpenClassroom’s 2022 Mission Report the company reaffirmed it believes that education should be accessible to everyone and everywhere. Regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. Regardless of social and cultural background. Regardless of financial capacities.