Although raised in a loving home by his mother and stepfather, growing up for Gregory Haile wasn’t easy. He lived in a dangerous neighborhood surrounded by crime. He traveled more than an hour to get to elementary and middle school and attended one of the most dangerous high schools in New York City. And yet, he not only graduated magna cum laude at Arizona State University but also Columbia University School of Law. All the while, he never lost his love of learning or the realization that too many Americans are unable to gain access to higher education. The latter led to his amazing career in academia and helped thousands of students get the same opportunities he experienced. In this truly inspirational talk, Haile shares his story, from overcoming adversity to his profound dedication to learning to his tireless efforts to expand access to education and create opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. His speech is a call to action for those who want to continue to transform education and empower students to be the best they can be.

When accepting the position of president of Broward College, Gregory Haile had one major goal in mind: He wanted the institution to do a far better job of making sure that it reached those who had the greatest challenges—something he was deeply familiar with and passionate about because of his own struggles to have access to a good education. And that is exactly what he did. In this talk, Haile shares his journey of rebuilding the model of post-secondary education, especially for low-income families; how the school was able to reach thousands of students who attended school at no cost; and empowering students to overcome obstacles, fulfill their potential and achieve academic success.

Gregory Haile serves as a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he focuses on the intersection of three key elements of American national security—economic mobility, engaging low-income and marginalized communities to support our nation's workforce needs—and AI. In 2023, Haile began working with the U.S.-EU Talent for Growth Task Force. The Task Force was co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of State, and it brought together six American leaders from business, labor and education to collaborate with counterparts from the European Union. Their goal is to ensure that the EU and U.S. have enough talent to work in the tech industry, especially A.I. In this talk, Haile discusses how we can combat the shortage of employees; why we need to exchange best practices; and what is needed for the future, so we can compete with the rest of the world.

Drawing from his extensive experience in guiding organizations to success, Gregory Haile dives deep into what it means to be a true leader—one who has the ability to inspire others toward a common purpose. In this talk, he’ll share stories of his own personal journey, the tough decisions he had to make, why mission and your personal values are so important, the essential components of effective leadership and how to develop the skills to bring out the best in others. Haile will empower you to embrace your role as a leader and become a catalyst for positive transformation in your community and beyond.