Peter Tichansky, based in New York City, has been the CEO of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) since 1996. In this role, with his Board and team, he has created a global corporate network working at the intersection of business and government to address global societal challenges. He leverages this global network to tackle last-mile challenges facing policymakers at all levels and facilitate partnerships in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tichansky and BCIU are regularly approached to identify donors to support worthwhile nonprofit initiatives, to identify qualified candidates for Board and advisory roles, and to develop strategic plans for cause-related institutions launching campaigns and mobilizing initiatives. He is noted for quickly adding value to management and executive teams pursuing aggressive goals, and for his ability to tap into the goodwill of senior public and private sector leaders based on relationships which have developed over time.

Among his previous passion projects, he served in short‐term advisory board roles at several non‐profits created by friends, including the International Child Art Foundation, an organization which highlights the innate creativity and intrinsic empathy in children; the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama; the  All World Network, an institute for entrepreneurship under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Porter; the Truce Foundation USA, a small organization which promotes the Olympic ideals; had proudly served on the UN advisory committee tasked with building a permanent memorial to the TransAtlantic slave tragedy. In pursuing his interest in engaging African diaspora community leaders to increase U.S.  understanding of business and partnership opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, he took a deep dive into West Africa. Notably, in 2005, he met Japhet Aryiku when BCIU was supporting then U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Don Teitelbaum, and, since that time, has endeavored to facilitate positive outcomes between the public and private sectors active in the U.S/Ghana relationships. Under Mr. Tichansky’s leadership, BCIU has deepened its brand and credibility by working in support of U.S.  commercial diplomacy, which has brought him into relationships with two generations of senior Executive Branch agency officials, U.S. presidential appointees, and scores of career and noncareer U.S.  Ambassadors.

BCIU’s strong reputation with the U.S. Government has resulted in it receiving the prestigious Peace through Commerce Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2012, the 2014  Excellence in International Business award from the Association of Diplomatic Studies and Training, and regular requests from the Departments of State and Commerce to work on improving the trade literacy of the U.S. Foreign Service.  He is a graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in Political Science. He lives in Manhattan with his wife of 35 years – they are pleased to have two happy and healthy adult daughters, and the opportunity to give back to their 90+-year-old widowed mothers.