Executive Director, Stanford Accelerator for Learning
Isabelle C. Hau is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming the way we nurture and educate children.
As the Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, she spearheads initiatives that leverage brain science and technology to develop innovative, inclusive learning solutions for learners worldwide.
Prior, Isabelle led the U.S. education practice at Omidyar Network and Imaginable Futures, where she invested in mission-driven organizations. Her investments have empowered millions of learners, educators, and communities with the tools to thrive in an evolving world.
Isabelle has received prestigious recognitions, including being named one of the 100 Most Inspiring Harvard Business School Women. She has been honored by GlobalMindED for her work in early childhood education and by ASU GSV for her contributions in human-centered artificial intelligence. She currently serves on the boards of EDC and Sonen, and on the steering committee member of the EDSAFE AI Alliance and the Brookings Global AI Taskforce. She has also judged leading global competitions, including the AERDF $25 million Fellowship, the XPrize, the WISE Education Prize, the $100 million McArthur Challenges, and the LEGO Foundation’s $143 million early childhood challenge.
She is the author of the book “Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Education” published by PublicAffairs/Hachette. Her popular newsletter, Small Talks, explores the future of (early) learning.
Isabelle teaches at Stanford the class “Design to Prepare Learners in Underserved Communities,” and is a frequent guest speaker in other classes at Stanford University. Raised in rural Southern France, she holds degrees from Sciences Po Paris, ESSEC, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A mother of two, she co-starred with Grover from Sesame Street on early childhood innovation. Her lifelong mission is to ensure every child experiences the love of learning from the earliest years.