Alex Budak

Videos

You don't have to be a CEO to be a leader | Alex Budak | TEDxKI
Dean's Speaker Series | Becoming a Changemaker
Becoming a Changemaker with Alex Budak & May Samali

Learn More About Alex Budak

Alex Budak is an educator, entrepreneur and author who helps people cultivate courage, spark change and make an impact wherever they go.

An award-winning faculty member at UC Berkeley, Budak holds a triple appointment at the Haas School of Business, School of Public Health and College of Natural Resources. His impact-focused courses teach students to think, act, and lead differently—and have even inspired student tattoos.

Named a top 5 non-fiction book about work by CNBC, “Becoming a Changemaker” (Balance, September 2022) is being translated into 26 languages.

Budak began his hands-on, community-driven change work as co-founder of StartSomeGood, which has raised millions of dollars to help launch and scale new change efforts in over 50 countries.

A UCLA and Georgetown graduate, he has spoken on leadership, change and meaning around the world, from Ukraine to Cambodia. Budak regularly leads workshops and keynotes for organizations like Accenture, Salesforce, The World Bank and UNHCR.

Alex Budak is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group^®.

Becoming a Changemaker: Leadership Without Titles

If the word “leader” didn’t exist, what word would you use instead? For UC Berkeley faculty member and best-selling author Alex Budak, the future of leadership means each of us becoming a changemaker.

We can all lead change from wherever we are, and this actionable and inspiring keynote shares the research-backed steps to help individuals, teams and organizations lead with courage, purpose and impact. We’ll cover how to question the status quo (in ways that actually work); how to lead change through influence (not just authority); and how to inspire others with your vision (no matter your title).

Key Takeaways:

The 5 influence super powers and how to put each one into practice right away.
How to lead with vision (even if you aren’t a CEO or senior leader).
The secrets of leading change from where you are.

Developing Change Fitness: Resilience and Innovation in Times of Uncertainty

While there are countless strategies for change management, they are rendered totally ineffective if you and your team aren’t prepared to face change itself. In this keynote, together we will develop your “Change Fitness” – helping you build the core strength to adapt, thrive and lead in dynamic environments. Just as you’d hit the gym to strengthen your body, we’ll exercise your mental agility and flexibility. Drawing from cutting-edge research in psychology, neuroscience and organizational behavior, you’ll discover practical techniques to build resilience, cultivate grounded presence and excel at seeing opportunity in change. You’ll gain powerful tools to boost your change fitness, enhancing your and your team’s ability to navigate and thrive in today’s evolving business landscape.

Key Takeaways:

Developing Adaptability Learn practical strategies to enhance your flexibility in the face of change, allowing you to pivot quickly and effectively in dynamic situations.
Building Grounded Presence Discover techniques to maintain composure and clarity amidst uncertainty, enabling more thoughtful and strategic responses to change.
Activating “Possibility Intelligence” Unlock your ability to see opportunities within challenges, transforming potential threats into avenues for growth and innovation.

From Ideas to Impact: Lessons From Social Entrepreneurship for Lasting Change

This engaging session delves into lessons from inspiring social entrepreneurs who have made a lasting impact on society. Through real-world examples – including from Alex Budak’s own work co-founding StartSomeGood – we’ll explore how these social innovators leveraged entrepreneurial methods to create scalable, sustainable change. Attendees will gain insights into how these strategies can be applied to all types of change efforts, even in traditional corporate environments.

Focusing on the power of innovation and adaptability, the session will equip participants to think like changemakers—turning big ideas into tangible, lasting solutions. This session provides tools and insights for leaders and teams to create meaningful change, regardless of industry or role.

Key Takeaways:

Participants will leave the session with insights, inspiration and practical tools to lead change that is:

Sustainable: Leading sustainable change requires embedding long-term thinking into every decision, ensuring that solutions can endure and evolve over time.
Scalable: To scale change effectively, leaders must focus on building adaptable frameworks that can grow while maintaining impact, regardless of size or geography.
Systemic: Driving systemic change involves addressing root causes and leveraging partnerships, creating shifts that permeate entire systems rather than focusing on isolated solutions.

Everyday Courage: How Small Acts Unlock Your Leadership and Fulfillment

When we think of courage, we often picture heroic acts or fearless leaps. But true courage isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about the small, everyday choices we make. In this keynote, we’ll reframe courage as a habit that anyone can cultivate, in all aspects of our lives. You’ll uncover the six distinct types of courage—from moral to creative to social—and learn how to leverage them to lead a more meaningful and impactful life. Drawing on insights from psychology, neuroscience and inspiring but relatable real-world stories, we’ll explore how courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to face it. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their courage muscles and apply them at work, life and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

Recognizing the Spectrum of Courage: Discover the six different types of courage and how each plays a role in living a fulfilling life.
Cultivating Everyday Courage: Learn practical tools to embrace courageous actions in daily decisions, from speaking up in tough situations to embracing vulnerability.
Overcoming Fear and Leading with Resilience: Gain strategies to face fear with confidence, reframe imposter syndrome and foster a mindset of growth and resilience.

Personalized Post-Keynote Executive Coaching – Budak delivers six 30-minute virtual sessions to coach workers at all levels, from the C-suite to the front lines, on the essential skills and tools to effect change. This highly interactive series uses Budak’s Changemaker Canvas as a springboard for learning how to turn ideas into action and inspire teams to become changemakers.
Small Group Advisory on Building “Change Fitness” – Budak facilitates intimate, high-trust conversations with leadership teams to build “change fitness,” or the individual and collective mindsets needed to thrive amid uncertainty. Through practical frameworks, behavior-focused tools and real-world case studies, he helps participants navigate resistance, secure buy-in and lead change with greater confidence and clarity. This session is especially valuable for organizations seeking to shift culture without defaulting to top-down mandates or one-size-fits-all change management programs.
Partnering to Create Custom Digital Learning Experiences – Budak can co-develop tailored micro-learning content to bring his Changemaker methodology to life across larger teams. Using engaging video modules, guided worksheets and LMS interactive exercises, he helps translate mindset-shifting ideas into scalable training tools. These practical resources are designed to activate changemaker identity, expand influence and build lasting courage in every corner of an organization, long after the keynote ends.

Alex Budak’s UC Berkeley Faculty Page

Alex Budak’s Website