Michael Lake

Michael E. Lake is the President and CEO of Leading Cities, a global Smart City non-profit organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.123 His professional background is diverse and impactful, spanning public service and urban innovation.

Professional Background

Public Service Experience: Michael has an extensive career in public service, including:

• Serving three United States Presidents as Special Assistant for White House Operations and Presidential Advance
• Working as a policy research analyst for the former Prime Minister of Ireland12

Leadership at Leading Cities

Organizational Mission: Leading Cities' mission is to achieve a sustainable planet by promoting Smart City solutions. As President and CEO, Michael:

• Establishes relationships with municipal governments, businesses, and universities worldwide
• Creates a global network of partner cities dedicated to implementing urban innovations
• Provides tools and programming for Smart City leaders123

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Key Achievements:

• Helped build entrepreneurship ecosystems in multiple cities
• Informed the development of Boston's Innovation District
• Established the first Bridge to MassChallenge program connecting MassChallenge and Zapopan, Mexico
• Created AcceliCITY, a Smart City-specific accelerator that received over 550 applications from 40+ countries in its inaugural year1

Professional Affiliations

Michael serves on numerous advisory boards and organizations, including:

• Founding President of the American Swiss Foundation New England Alumni Chapter
• President of the Board for Neighborhood Organization for Affordable Housing (NOAH)
• Advisory Board member for Harvard University's Taubman Center
• Member of the Boston Committee on Foreign Relations1

Speaking and Recognition

He is a world-renowned keynote speaker at Smart City congresses and events globally, focusing on urban innovation and sustainable development.1