Saif Ishoof

Bio

Raised in Miami, Saif is an expert on how the forces of disruption are transforming how we
learn, work, and play. Saif has been recognized with several prestigious distinctions including
as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a scholar of the German Marshall Fund, and as an
Aspen Institute Fellow for Civil Society. Most recently, Saif was named Most Innovative CEO in
South Florida by the Levan Center for Innovation. Saif is a frequently sought-after advisor and
board member to venture & private-equity backed companies. He is also a speaker and
writer on subjects including innovation, talent, American competitiveness, the Future of Work,
and Web 3.0.

Saif previously served as the Vice President for Engagement at Florida International University and as the founding Senior Advisor for Innovation & Technology to City of Miami Mayor,
Francis Suarez. As VP for Engagement, Saif built transformational partnerships for the
university and generated over $70m to fuel institutional impact. As advisor to Mayor Suarez,
he founded the Venture Miami team and worked to assist scores of companies and funds in
their relocation to Miami. Saif also advised on several signature projects in the frontier
technology domain in support of Mayor Suarez’s vision of Miami as the ‘capital of capital’.
Prior to FIU, Saif served as the founding Executive Director of City Year Miami.
Saif earned his bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and his Juris
Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law.