Meet Michelle Breslauer, a distinguished member of the Class of 1994 and the 2023 Alumni Spotlight Award winner. Michelle currently holds a leadership position in the governance and peace portfolio at the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.


At the UN, Michelle Breslauer's focus lies in developing programs that engage businesses in advancing peaceful, just, and inclusive societies (reflected as the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development Goal 16). With her impressive expertise, she guides over 15,000 companies across 160 countries and 69 local networks to align their operations and strategies with respect to human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. 

Prior to her current role, Michelle dedicated eight years to directing strategic partnerships and programs for the Institute for Economics and Peace, where she utilized data to understand and communicate the drivers of peace globally. Her influence extends far beyond her organizations, as she has delivered impactful speeches on peace, security, global governance, and development in prominent international platforms like the United Nations, the World Bank, universities, and think-tanks. 

Michelle holds a Master's degree in urban studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree in international affairs from the American University of Paris. Her extensive experience includes managing complex communication strategies on an international scale, including her involvement with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center and New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.