UC Berkeley Faculty, Keynote Speaker, and Author of Becoming a Changemaker.
Hey there! I’m Alex. Come as you are. Together, we’ll build your everyday courage to lead change, from wherever you are.
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about alex
Alex Budak teaches people how to lead with everyday courage from wherever they are.
He is a faculty member at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and created the core leadership class at Berkeley's School of Public Health. His teaching inspired the campus-wide Berkeley Changemaker program, now spanning 50 classes and 80 faculty. It also inspired student tattoos.
His book, Becoming a Changemaker, is being translated into 27 languages. CNBC named it a top-five nonfiction book about work, and Thinkers50 included him in its Radar Class of management thinkers to watch in 2026.
He previously co-founded StartSomeGood, which has raised more than $12 million to launch and scale new initiatives from urban gardens to mental health startups in more than 50 countries.
Outside of the classroom, he delivers keynotes on leadership, change, and courage from Argentina to the Arctic Circle, speaking at organizations like Accenture, Salesforce, the World Bank, and UNHCR.
Formerly a travel writer, Alex now enjoys the adventures of life with his two young kids, his favorite changemakers. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he brings the same loyalty to his work, though he admits one lesson came the hard way: never go budget skydiving.
Let’s Create Change Together
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For Organizations
Keynotes, workshops, advising, and executive sessions, trusted by organizations like Accenture, Salesforce, the World Bank, and UNHCR.
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For Readers
Get Becoming a Changemaker, recognized by CNBC as a top nonfiction book about work, for practical tools to lead change from wherever you are.
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For Students & Executives
Explore courses and executive education programs at UC Berkeley, where Alex teaches leadership across its business, health, and climate schools.
Speaking & Podcast Interviews
Recent Speaking Events
Salesforce / Lyft / Intuit / Sony / Rakuten / UNHCR / World Bank / Accenture / MIT / Georgetown / Visa / Morning Brew / Learn more here.
See Alex in action
A short look at Alex introducing his concept of the six types of everyday courage.
Podcast Interviews
Hello Monday / Greg McKeown / Curious Minds at Work / Lead from the Heart / The Unlock Moment / Full playlist (50+) here
Have a Speaking Opportunity or Podcast in mind?
Alex is passionate about and regularly speaks on the topics of leadership, change, fulfillment, purpose, social entrepreneurship and:
Becoming a Changemaker
Everyday Courage
Leadership for this Moment
Change Fitness
Your Human Edge In An AI World
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“There’s no one better than Alex to teach people how to become a transformational leader.”
-Aaron Levie / CEO, Box
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“Professor Budak’s course was life changing. It helped me find my voice and transformed who I am as a person and a leader."
Alicia Wilson / Olympic Athlete, Great Britain & UC Berkeley ‘23
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"Alex's talk garnered some of the brightest engagement and attendance we have ever seen!"
Sarika Saksena / Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture
Contact
For keynote speaking, workshops, executive education, podcast interviews, or other collaborations, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.
