Workforce and economic policy expert to lead next chapter for nonprofit supporting immigrant professionals, workforce development, and U.S. competitiveness
New York, NY – December 4, 2025 — Upwardly Global, the leading nonprofit helping talented immigrants and refugees with international credentials restart their professional careers in the U.S., has announced the appointment of Gregory Haile, a national leader in economic mobility and workforce development, as Chief Executive Officer. Under Haile’s leadership, the organization will advance innovation in economic opportunity, skills-first hiring, and responsible AI-driven recruitment to empower immigrant talent and drive U.S. economic growth and competitiveness.
“It is an honor to lead Upwardly Global at such a pivotal moment — AI related skills are in demand, significant workforce gaps persist, and extraordinary talent goes underutilized,” said Haile. “To lead the world, the U.S. cannot afford to ignore any of its talent. Upwardly Global ensures the immigrant engineer can build the infrastructure of tomorrow, the immigrant nurse can deliver lifesaving care, and the immigrant technologist can support our AI-enabled future. I am privileged to lead Upwardly Global, and drive American prosperity with global talent.”
Expertise in Economic Inclusion
Throughout his career, Haile has devoted himself to ensuring that individuals are empowered with the tools to manifest their talents, that opportunity is not limited by circumstance, and that the United States optimizes all of its talent for growth and global competitiveness. His leadership experience at the intersection of workforce development and economic opportunity will be a cornerstone in Upwardly Global’s next chapter of impact.
As Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Haile promotes an inclusive financial system that fosters opportunity and growth. His research as a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School explores economic mobility, workforce readiness, and artificial intelligence as critical elements of U.S. national security. Haile was also one of six American leaders from business, labor and education selected to serve on the U.S.-EU Talent for Growth Task Force, collaborating with counterparts from the European Union to advance human capital development on both sides of the Atlantic. And in his time as President of Broward College, one of the largest public colleges in the U.S., he earned top-ten national rankings (from among more than 1000 community colleges) from the Aspen Institute in every eligible year of his tenure.
A Path for Progress
Upwardly Global has a strong track record of placing more than 35,000 jobseekers in skill-aligned roles over the past 25 years. With Haile at the helm, the organization will build on this progress driving U.S. competitiveness and shared prosperity by creating pathways for immigrants to contribute their full talents to the workforce.
“Gregory brings a unique depth of experience and fresh perspectives from his work across the public and private sectors, which will help Upwardly Global expand our impact,” said Alice Kang, President at Upwardly Global.“We are inspired by his commitment to bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, furthering workforce development, and championing economic mobility, and look forward to advancing our mission together.”
Haile will start in his new role as Upwardly Global CEO on January 5, 2026. Read his full bio below.
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About Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees with professional credentials restart their careers in the U.S. Since 2000, Upwardly Global has dismantled employment barriers for work-authorized newcomers while advancing the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy. Learn more at UpwardlyGlobal.org.
Media Contact:
McPherson Strategies
upwardlyglobal@mcpstrategies.com
917–859-2291
Introducing Gregory Haile, J.D., New CEO of Upwardly Global
Gregory Haile has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Upwardly Global, the leading
organization focused on helping internationally trained professionals access opportunities in the U.S. workforce. Haile has devoted his career to ensuring that individuals are empowered with the skills needed to improve their livelihoods and that opportunity is not limited by circumstance. He also champions a vision of a United States that fully embraces all of its talent to drive growth and global competitiveness. He will start in his new role as Upwardly Global CEO on January 5, 2026.
Haile also serves as Board Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, where he helps guide monetary policy for a district that holds more than $530 billion in assets and promotes a stable, inclusive financial system that fosters opportunity and growth.
He is the first educator to chair the Atlanta Fed in 70 years, having previously served as President of Broward College, one of the largest community colleges in the United States, serving more than 55,000 students. Under his leadership, Broward College earned a top-ten ranking from the Aspen Institute in every eligible year of his tenure, and he was recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as one of the top five community college presidents in the nation.
Haile is also currently a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, where his research explores the intersection of economic mobility, workforce readiness, and artificial intelligence as critical elements of U.S. national security.
As a partner with Strategos Group, he leads the consulting firm’s Higher Education and Workforce Advisory Practice, advising businesses that are leveraging innovation to bring transformational opportunities to college students across the United States.
Haile has served in more than 40 board or committee leadership roles and has held 10 board chairmanships. In 2024, he completed service as a member of the U.S.-EU Talent for Growth Task Force, co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of State. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Young Presidents’ Organization.
He holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was recognized as the most outstanding graduate in his college. Haile received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Nova Southeastern University and is a Fellow of the Vanderbilt University Higher Education Management Institute.
