Isabelle Hau

Role: Executive Director, Stanford Accelerator for Learning Organization: Stanford University Website: https://www.isabellehau.com/about-isabelle Newsletter: “Small Talks” (about the future of early learning) Relationship Depth: Leadership

Professional Background

• Executive Director of Stanford Accelerator for Learning
• Former founder/leader of U.S. Education initiative at Omidyar Network (Pierre Omidyar’s philanthropic group)
• Founding partner of Imaginable Futures (education venture of The Omidyar Group)
• Started career at Morgan Stanley as global financier
• MBA from Harvard Business School, Sciences-Po Paris, ESSEC
• Raised in rural Southern France

Major Accomplishments

• Seeded Khan Academy Kids, Ellevation, Handshake (now unicorns)
• Created Promise Venture Studio (with Harvard Center on Developing Child)
• Launched Home Grown philanthropic collaborative
• Organized “Early Futures” event with Sesame Workshop and LEGO
• Coordinates AI+Education Summits at Stanford
• Rise Prize ($1.5M for student parent solutions)

Current Boards & Roles

• Board Director: EDC (global nonprofit), Sonen (impact investing)
• EDSAFE AI Alliance steering committee
• Brookings Institution Global AI Taskforce
• World Economic Forum Education 4.0 Alliance
• Teaches “Design to Prepare Learners in Under-resourced Communities” at Stanford

Recognition

• ASU-GSV “Women Leading in AI Revolution in EDU” (2024, 2025)
• Top 100 Inspiring Women from Harvard Business School
• GlobalMindED “Inclusive Leader Award – Early Childhood Education” (2021)

Working Relationship with Reuben

• Sponsoring voice for ISTE partnership initiative
• Directive: “Avengers of AI Literacy” - Build-a-Bot as opener, then Privacy, Future-forward
• Interested and on board for ISTE (confirmed Jan 2026)
• Key voice in strategic direction of Build-a-Bot and external partnerships

Working Style

• Provides high-level direction and vision
• Wants to be looped in on major partnership developments
• Values connecting initiatives to broader organizational mission
• Described as “a doer” who drives big, bold ideas through collaboration

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Last updated: Jan 2026