Mahlet Aklu has over ten years of experience in Executive Education. She worked at the Harvard Kennedy School, most recently as the Senior Director of Executive Education for the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative - a collaboration among Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Mahlet was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and delivery of Executive Education leadership programs designed for mayors and their senior staff from the U.S. and around the world. Other programs Mahlet directed have focused on innovation, leadership and management, public policy and public financial management. Prior to her time at Harvard, Mahlet has worked in Social Services in Virginia investigating cases of child abuse and neglect and providing comprehensive services to children and their families. She’s also worked in California, making medical, financial, and other decisions on behalf of low-income elderly. Mahlet holds a B.A. and M.A. in Social Work.

Mahlet was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and came to the United States as a junior in high school. She moved to the Boston area 14 years ago and currently lives in Arlington with her husband and two young daughters.