ABOUT ISABELLE

My name is Isabelle Hau and I have devoted my professional life to understanding, researching, innovating, and building a bright future of learning where each and every child thrives. 

My inaugural book will be published in 2024 by Public Affairs, part of the Hachette Group. The book explores a fundamental question: How do children thrive, and why do some children flourish despite adversity?
 
I have leveraged financial capital as an impact investor and philanthropist, network capital as an advisor to innovative organizations, and intellectual capital as a writer to positively impact millions of learners. I am the executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, working on accelerating solutions to the most pressing issues  facing learners. Prior, I led the U.S. education work at Imaginable Futures and Omidyar Network, the philanthropic investment firm of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam.
 
Across those roles, I have invested in, advised, and served on the boards of the most innovative organizations and initiatives in early learning and intergenerational approaches. I is a regular contributor to several publications, including Forbes and EdSurge. I also write a popular weekly newsletter, Small Talks.
 
I was awarded the 2021 Global MindED Inclusive Leader Award in Early Childhood Education. I was also honored as a top 100 Inspiring Women at Harvard Business School. One of my proudest moments is co-starring with Grover of Sesame Street on early childhood innovation.