Lecturer
Management of Organizations
Expert on leadership and change; creator of "Becoming a Changemaker" course
About
Alex Budak is a Berkeley Haas professional faculty member, a social entrepreneur, and the author of the forthcoming book, “Becoming a Changemaker”. He believes everyone has the potential to lead positive change, and he dedicates his life to helping people from all walks of life become changemakers.
Budak co-founded StartSomeGood.com, a platform that breaks down the barriers that prevent people from enacting change. StartSomeGood.com has now helped over 1,000 changemakers in 50 countries raise over $12 million to catalyze new initiatives. He previously ran Sweden’s leading social innovation incubator, Reach for Change, and worked at Change.org.
At Berkeley Haas, he puts his heart and soul into teaching students and executives from around the globe the mindset, leadership skills and action steps required to become changemakers. He also serves as Executive Director of the Berkeley Haas Global Access Program and Faculty Director of The Berkeley Changemaker Gateway.
Budak has given lectures on changemaking, entrepreneurship, and leadership in venues ranging from Ukraine to Cambodia, Los Angeles to the Arctic Circle, and at the White House and UN agencies.
In fall 2022, Hachette will be publishing his first book, “Becoming a Changemaker.” Following the same structure as his UC Berkeley courses, the book gives readers the tools and confidence required to become changemakers.
Alex is a graduate of UCLA and Georgetown University and the recipient of UCLA’s Recent Alumnus of the Year Award.
Expertise and Research Interests
- Leadership
- Change
- Entrepreneurship
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Social Change
- Social Innovation
At Haas since 2016
2019- present Lecturer
2017- present Changemaker in Residence, Berkeley Haas
2016- present Director Berkeley Haas Global Access Program
2011- present Co-founder (now advisor), StartSomeGood
2013-15 Country Director, Sweden at Reach for Change
- Member, World Economic Forum Expert Network: Social Innovation
- Board Member, Konexio (present)
- Board Member, Peppy Pals (2016-present)
- Member, Sandbox Network
- Faculty Advisor, Net Impact Berkeley
- Advisor, College Leap
- UCLA’s Recent Graduate of the Year (2017)
- Real Leaders Magazine 100 Visionary Leaders for a Better World
- Diplomatic Courier’s Foreign Policy Top 99 under 33
- Friends of Europe: Top 10 North American Young Leader under 40
- YouthActionNet Global Fellow, Social Enterprise
Classified: Empowering undergrads to be changemakers, Berkeley Haas News, 04/03/2019
‘New Berkeley changemaker’ course turns self-discovery into tool for change, Berkeley News, 07/01/2020
Finding the changemakers of tomorrow, Forbes, 08/21/2019
UGBA 159: Becoming a Changemaker
FT/EWMBA 259: Becoming a Changemaker
UGBA C12 / L&S C12: The Berkeley Changemaker