Liam Elkind
Liam Elkind is a nonprofit CEO and Rhodes Scholar who co-founded Invisible Hands as a Junior in college. He mobilized over 15,000 volunteers to deliver food to and connect with those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. He teaches compassionate leadership, community organizing, and practical non-profit management for creating change.
PRIMARY TOPICS
- Entrepreneurship
- Ethics & Values
- Leadership
- Non-Profit Organization
- Organizational Development
- Servant Leadership
- Social Entrepreneurship
GETTING TO KNOW
LIAM ELKIND
Liam Elkind is a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Yale University, recognized internationally for his leadership in civic engagement and social innovation. He is the co-founder of Invisible Hands, a nonprofit that mobilized over 15,000 volunteers to deliver food, medicine, and essential supplies to vulnerable individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Liam’s leadership, Invisible Hands became a model for grassroots crisis response, earning national media coverage through outlets such as Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Associated Press, and Fox & Friends.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Liam founded Registration Is Student Empowerment (RISE), an organization dedicated to increasing voter registration and civic participation among students. His leadership philosophy bridges strategic action and community-centered service, shaped by participation in prestigious programs including the Clinton Global Initiative University Fellowship, Newman Civic Fellowship, and Swing Left College Fellowship.
Liam’s contributions to public service and leadership have been widely recognized. He is the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, the George H. W. Bush Daily Points of Light Award, and a Webby Special Achievement Award, and was named one of Town & Country Magazine’s Top Philanthropists alongside figures like Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Anthony Fauci. He has also received the Manhattan Institute’s Civil Society Award and the Grant Thornton Purple Paladin Award.
As a speaker, Liam offers practical, actionable insights on leadership in times of uncertainty, crisis management, nonprofit innovation, and civic responsibility. He is particularly skilled at engaging next-generation leaders and emerging professionals, advocating for the belief that “young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow — we are already leading today.” Liam’s talks inspire audiences to align purpose with strategy and build leadership practices rooted in empathy, resilience, and community impact.
Keynotes
The Leadership of Compassion
In this inspiring keynote, Liam Elkind shares his journey from college student to internationally recognized nonprofit founder and crisis response leader. As co-founder and CEO of Invisible Hands, Liam mobilized over 15,000 volunteers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver essential supplies to vulnerable populations, transforming a grassroots idea into an internationally celebrated organization.
Drawing from his leadership experiences, both the successes and the setbacks, Liam offers audiences a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to lead with compassion under pressure. He explores the operational and human-centered challenges of scaling a volunteer-driven organization and distills actionable leadership lessons relevant to today’s business and civic environments.
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT:
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- Learn how to build and mobilize mission-driven teams, even in times of crisis
- Learn strategies for recruiting, retaining, and energizing volunteers and stakeholders
- Learn how to leverage youth perspectives and fresh leadership approaches as strategic assets
- Learn the business case for compassionate leadership and its role in driving resilience, loyalty, and impact
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Recognizing, Recruiting, and Retaining Young Leaders
Liam offers corporate leaders practical strategies for today’s competitive talent landscape. He provides insights to recognize, recruit, and retain exceptional young talent, focusing on Gen-Z’s unique aspirations and purpose-driven work ethic. Learn how to foster environments that attract and engage the next wave of high-performing leaders, ensuring sustained organizational growth and innovation.
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT:
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- Retain young employees/volunteers
- Learn how to provide followers with a sense of purpose
- Gain an understanding of Gen-Z
Pulling Together to Pull Through: How to Lead in Crisis
Invisible Hands Co-Founder Liam Elkind shares his transformative journey leading a non-profit that rapidly scaled to over 15,000 volunteers amidst unprecedented global challenges, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from this direct experience, Elkind provides corporate leaders with actionable insights on effective crisis leadership and organizational resilience.
Attendees will learn vital strategies for responding quickly and thoughtfully during periods of disruption, emphasizing the critical balance of listening to experts, trusting instincts, and maintaining unwavering adaptability. Elkind highlights how agility and a purpose-driven approach can empower teams to navigate uncertainty and emerge stronger. He also shares unique perspectives on leveraging emerging talent and fostering leadership potential within your organization, demonstrating how diverse perspectives can drive innovative solutions in turbulent times. This session equips leaders to cultivate a resilient culture capable of transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and sustained success.
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT:
- Listening skills
- Responding to internal crisis
- Responding to global crisis
- Decision-making skills
- Leadership skills
Speaker Resources
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
To help you promote your event with Liam, EVERGREEN has created promotional templates. In this folder, you will find resources for social media and press photos that you can use for your event.
Review Promotional Materials
LOGISTICAL MATERIALS
Below you will find logistical resources for the day of your event with Liam.
In-Person AV Needs (PDF)
Speaking Introduction (PDF)
