Mike Hayes Keynote Speaker
- 20-year veteran of the United States Navy SEALs
- Chief Operating Officer at VMware
- Holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard's J.F.K. School of Government
Mike Hayes's Biography
Mike Hayes is a highly sought-after speaker with a wealth of experience in leadership, crisis management, and organizational development. With over 20 years of service in the United States Navy SEALs, two White House administrations, and top executive roles in the private sector, Hayes has a diverse and impressive background that allows him to bring real-life examples to his speaking engagements.
Hayes’ last job in the Navy was as the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team T.W.O., which included 10 months as the Commanding officer of a 2,000-man Special Operations Response Team in southeast Afghanistan. A White House Fellow (’08/’09), he served two years as Defense Policy and Strategy Director during a gathering of the National Security Council Hayes was in control of the START Treaty during the Bush Administration, producing a new proposed START Treaty and negotiating with the Russians in Moscow. In the Obama administration, Hayes was in full control of the White House response to Barack Obama’s first major foreign policy test, the attempt to hijack the Maersk Alabama from off the coast of Somalia. Prior to the White House Fellowship, Hayes was the Deputy Director for all Special Operations in Iraq’s Anbar Region.
Beyond his military and governmental service, Mike is currently the Chief Operating Officer at VMware. He joined VMware in October 2020 and led the company’s worldwide business operations and the acceleration of the company’s SaaS transition. Previously, he was S.V.P. and Head of Strategic Operations at Cognizant Technology, where he ran the $2B P&L for Financial Services. Mike also served in Chief of Staff and C.O.O. roles at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest and most successful hedge fund.
In customized presentations, Hayes pulls out the overarching lessons he has learned to discuss topics such as leadership, how organizational design ties to outcomes, the essentials for decision-making under duress, how cultures are a determinant of winning, crisis management, dealing with adversity, conflict resolution, communication, motivation, focused execution, workforce optimization, setting strategy, enhancing innovation, and personal and organizational impact. Drawing on examples from his illustrious career, he shares leadership principles such as teaching individuals how to think rather than what to think, how a leader’s job is not to make the best decision but rather to make sure the best decision gets made, and how comfortable with discomfort is a key tenet of high-performance individuals and organizations.
Hayes has spoken at the White House, Harvard, and Goldman Sachs alongside President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. A Navy SEAL Commanding Officer overseas, a former leader in the National Security Council, and an experienced senior leader in the private sector, Hayes’ principles are sure to resonate with any audience.
Hayes holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard’s J.F.K. School of Government and received his B.A. from Holy Cross College, where he was an active Big Brother. His military decorations include the Bronze Star for valour in combat in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House. The RAND Corporation has published Hayes’ work. He is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the board of Immuta, a data governance company, and of the National Medal of Honor Museum, and a senior advisor to Inherent Group, an impact investment firm. An avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, he lives in Westport, Connecticut, with his wife and daughter.