Mike Malefakis

Mike Malefakis provides more than 30 years of higher education experience to Emeritus and most recently served as a Senior Advisor at Leeds Illuminate, a women-led growth equity team investing in Education and Workforce Development. Previously, he served as Director at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an Associate Dean of Executive Education at Columbia Business School, and Associate Vice Dean & CEO of Wharton Executive Education. Malefakis was a director on the board of the International University Consortium for Executive Education (UNICON) for a six-year term as well as serving as board chair, as part of a lifelong commitment to empowering innovation, lifelong learning, and workforce access.

Additionally, he spent six years working in Latin America for higher education and philanthropic organizations. For three and a half years, he led Executive Education at INCAE Business School, located in Costa Rica. Here, he introduced the department's first custom programs, as well as offerings in Miami and expansion into new markets in Andean countries. Malefakis also worked in micro and small enterprise development programs with CARE International and Catholic Relief Services.