Join us for an inspiring evening with Maureen and Tony Wheeler, co-founders of Lonely Planet, as they share their remarkable journey from adventurous travellers to pioneering entrepreneurs, renowned business leaders, and impactful philanthropists.
Maureen and Tony will take us through the early days of building Lonely Planet, its transformation into a world leader in publishing, its transition from print to digital, and ultimately its sale. They’ll reflect on the motivations behind their work, the moments they knew it was time to move on, the joys and challenges of running a family business, and how they channelled their entrepreneurial spirit into philanthropy.
Whether you’re thinking of starting your own venture, considering a career pivot, or driven by a desire to positively impact the world, this event offers a rare chance to learn from two people who’ve done it all — with heart, grit, and global influence.
Sergei Guriev. Professor of Economics and Dean of London Business School will host the conversation, which will be moderated by Rajesh Chandy, Professor of Marketing at LBS, Tony and Maureen Wheeler Chair in Entrepreneurship and Co-Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute.
This special event is part of the Wheeler Institute’s new series Journeys, which spotlights inspiring individuals who have pursued impact-driven business careers.
Date/Time: Monday 9 June 2025, 19:00 BST
Location: LT 18/19, Sammy Ofer Centre, London Business School or virtually via Zoom
Speakers
Tony and Maureen Wheeler
Tony and Maureen Wheeler are the co-founders of Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guidebook publisher. Their journey began in the early 1970s with a trip from London to Australia, which inspired their first guidebook, Across Asia on the Cheap. Over the next three decades, they built Lonely Planet into a globally recognized brand, known for its comprehensive and accessible travel content. In 2007, they sold the company to the BBC. Since then, Maureen and Tony have focused on philanthropic initiatives, supporting projects that leverage business solutions for development challenges. Tony Wheeler is an LBS alum, having completed a Master of Science in Management (as the MBA was then known) in 1972. In 2018, Maureen and Tony awarded a major donation to London Business School for the new Wheeler Institute for Business and Development.
Rajesh Chandy is Professor of Marketing and the Tony and Maureen Wheeler Chair in Entrepreneurship at London Business School, where he is also the Academic Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development. Rajesh’s current research lies at the intersection of business and development. His recent projects have covered the impact of business skills among micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa, novel financing approaches in Ghana, property rights in slums in Egypt, innovation among farmers in India, highways and private education expenditures in India, and using big data for development outcomes.
Rajesh is a member of the advisory board of the Journal of Marketing and a Co-Editor of the journal’s special issue on “Better Marketing for a Better World”. He is also co-editor of the Management Science special issue on “Business and Climate Change,” and previously served as an Area Editor for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation area at Management Science. His research and publications have received several awards, including the Mahajan Award for Lifetime Contributions to Marketing Strategy Research.