Professional Faculty | Executive Director, Berkeley Haas Global Access Program
Management of Organizations

Social Entrepreneur, Educator, and Best-selling Author

About

Alex Budak is an educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and author who helps people cultivate courage and turn everyday moments into change.
An award-winning UC Berkeley faculty member, he holds a triple appointment at the Haas School of Business, School of Public Health, and College of Natural Resources, where his courses teach students and executives to lead with character, connection, and contribution—and have even inspired student tattoos.
His book, Becoming a Changemaker, is being translated into 27 languages. CNBC named it a top-five nonfiction book about work.
Budak’s change journey began when he co-founded StartSomeGood, which has raised more than $12 million to launch and scale new initiatives in more than 50 countries.
A UCLA and Georgetown graduate, he delivers keynotes on leadership, change, and courage to audiences worldwide, from Ukraine to Cambodia, and regularly leads interactive sessions for organizations such as Accenture, Salesforce, the World Bank, and UNHCR.
Formerly a travel writer, Alex now enjoys the everyday adventures of life with his two young kids—his favorite changemakers. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he brings the same loyalty to his work, though he admits one lesson came the hard way: never go budget skydiving.

Expertise and Research Interests

  • Leadership
  • Change
  • Courage
  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Happiness and Fulfillment
  • Future of Work
  • AI and Education
  • Climate Solutions