Saif Ishoof

Saif is a Miami native and 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 anda scholar of the German Marshall Fund. 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 ranging from innovation, talent, American competitiveness, the FutureofWork, andWeb 3.0.

In 2022, Saif founded Lab22c, serving as a thought partner to companiesand funders that are looking to grow and scale their impact and reach in Florida’s innovation ecosystem.In his current role, he alsoserves as Chief Innovation Advisor to City National Bank,inaugural Presidential Innovation Fellow at Miami Dade College, and Chairmanof the eMerge Americas Advisory Board.

Saifpreviously 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,generatingover $70millionto fuel institutional impact.He also served as a Senior Fellow in the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs wherehe supported founding Dean, John Stack, in multiple initiatives including the opening of the Jaffer Center for Muslim World Studies.In Saif’s role as the founding leaderof Mayor Suarez’s Venture Miami team, he worked to assist scores of companies and funds that relocated 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.