KELLAN HAYS
Kellan is a global program leader for organizations using education, advocacy, and technology for good. She is currently the Employee Impact Lead at Autodesk. Looking at ways to use design for positive impact, she leads philanthropic and professional development initiatives with employees, builds organizational capacity with customers, and fosters the culture and vision of Autodesk to make a better world.
Kellan is also a co-founder and advisor of Good Nature Agro. GNA works with smallholder farmers in Zambia to increase incomes through access to inputs, training, markets, and high-value crops. They currently work with 5,000 farmers to grow and sell legume seeds, while building demand for legumes across the region. This improves the health of the land, financial wellbeing of farm families, and adoption of conservation farming practices.
For 17 years, her career has been fiercely focused on environmental and social impact, working with a range of organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute, her own Sail for Kids nonprofit, and environmental advocacy and fundraising organizations. Kellan holds a double BA in communications and sociology from Tulane University, and an MBA concentrated on marketing and entrepreneurship from UC Davis, graduating as the Newberry Distinguished Fellow for Leadership.