Howard W. Buffett

Howard W. Buffett is a professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he published his award-winning research, Social Value Investing: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships (Columbia University Press, 2018). He serves on corporate and advisory boards focused on governance and sustainability, including Case New Holland (NYSE:CNH), Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM), Inari Agriculture and Holganix Inc.

Howard was previously the executive director and trustee of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which strengthens food security for vulnerable populations and is active in 100 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. While at the foundation, he co-authored the New York Times bestseller 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World (Simon & Schuster, 2013).

Earlier in his career, he oversaw economic development and stabilization programs for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was awarded the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award—the highest-ranking civilian honor presented by the Joint Chiefs of Staff requiring the approval of the Combatant Commanders. Prior to that, Howard was a policy advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council where he co-authored the President’s cross-sector partnership strategy, and he was a member of the 2008-09 Presidential Transition Team. He also held roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships.

Howard holds a BS from Northwestern University, an MPA from Columbia University and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he graduated top of his class, as well as executive education certificates from Harvard Business School. He also chairs the Advisory Council for Harvard’s International Negotiation Program.