Institution Builder. Geostrategic Policy Advisor. Global Educator. Unifier.
Advancing institutions and nations through purpose-driven leadership, strategic insight, technological amplification, and global engagement.
Navigating the Crossroads of Power and Purpose
In an era defined by great-power competition, technological acceleration, and eroding institutional trust, Mark Kennedy draws on a rare blend of experience—in government, academia, business, defense, and geoeconomic strategy—to strengthen America’s strategic resilience and build institutions that endure.
“Bridging public strategy and private dynamism. That’s where I live.”
A Scholar-Practitioner in a Fragmented World
- Mark Kennedy is a national and international thought leader in geoeconomic statecraft, institutional transformation, and strategic competition. His leadership spans service in Congress, appointment as a presidentially appointed trade advisor, two university presidencies, Fortune 500 executive experience, global teaching roles, and sustained engagement at the intersection of national security, strategy, and institutional innovation.
- From advancing bipartisan trade and infrastructure policy to reimagining higher education systems and building cross-alliance technology strategies, Kennedy brings a 360° perspective to today’s most urgent global challenges.
- He is the Founding Director and President of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (WISC), which he is re-launching as an independent institute advancing U.S. strategic advantage in international infrastructure investment, resilient supply chains, and trusted digital technologies. WISC convenes leaders and institutions across the G7, APEC, NATO, and Bretton Woods ecosystem to integrate research and actionable policy.
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- - WISC website coming soon
- As a Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force and Senior Fellow at CAN (Center for Naval Analyses), Kennedy contributes to defense strategy, deterrence innovation, and alliance modernization. He brings a global perspective shaped by engagements in over 45 countries—from conflict zones and refugee camps to 60+ military installations and three aircraft carriers at sea.
- His recent strategic contributions include:
Kennedy has taught in 20 countries on five continents and currently lectures on Strategic Competition and National Strategy—equipping rising leaders with the strategic frameworks and alliance-building insight needed to secure long-term advantage.
An Institutional Track Record of Impact
Whether in Congress, higher education, business, or global policy, Kennedy has:
- Served in the U.S. House of Representatives, and advised on White House trade policy
- Led institutional transformation at the University of Colorado and the University of North Dakota, advancing access, research, and inclusive excellence
- Founded enduring institutions like the Economic Club of Minnesota and the Wahba Institute to shape national and international dialogue
- Built coalitions and trust across ideological, institutional, and international lines
- Championed inclusive excellence, civic education, and free expression on campus
- Directed a top graduate school of applied politics
- Helped Pillsbury acquire and expand Häagen-Dazs, transforming it into a global brand
- Held executive roles at Federated Department Stores, helping it navigate seismic disruption to emerge as today’s Macy’s
Kennedy knows both the inner workings of politics and the outer narratives that shape public trust. Whether leading major public universities, advancing bipartisan economic and security policy, or building institutional trust amid controversy, Kennedy has proven himself a unifier in divided times.
📌 Quick Facts
- 360° Vision: From Congress to campus to global coalitions
- Transformation Leader: Led CU and UND through systemwide strategic renewal
- Institution Builder: Created WISC and Economic Club of Minnesota
- Geoeconomic Strategist: Leading U.S. engagement across tech, trade & alliances
- Defense Advisor: Senior Fellow at CNA, Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force
- Tech Evangelist: Championing technology adoption across research, education, and strategic policy
- Global Educator: First-generation college grad who has taught in 20 countries on five continents
- Trust Builder: Earned bipartisan credibility and sustained team loyalty
- Author: Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism (Columbia University Press)
📌 Featured Areas
🗣️ What Others Say
- ⭐ “Kennedy doesn’t ignore the elephant in the room; to the contrary, he looks it straight in the eye.” John King - CNN
- ⭐ "Mark Kennedy has done an outstanding job for Colorado and the university in a challenging period." Hank Brown, Former CU President and U.S. Senator
- ⭐ “Almost all progress and innovation at UND currently flows from the work you started.” Faculty Chair of University Senate