Jameel Index Advisory Committee

Headshot of Howard W. Buffett

Howard W. Buffett

  • Professor
  • Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

Howard W. Buffett is a professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He also serves on the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing for the university’s $14 billion endowment. Howard’s award-winning research, Social Value Investing: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships (Columbia University Press, 2018), introduces Impact Rate of Return—an innovative methodology to measure and analyze social and environmental impact. Previously, Howard was executive director of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which strengthens food security for vulnerable populations and is active in nearly 100 countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. While at the foundation, he co-authored the New York Times bestseller 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World (Simon & Schuster, 2013). Prior to that, Howard oversaw economic development and stabilization programs for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan and Iraq. For his work in Afghanistan, he received the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award—the highest-ranking civilian honor presented by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and requiring the request and approval of the Combatant Commanders. He also served as a Policy Advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he co-authored the President’s cross-sector partnership strategy, and he was a member of the Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform policy working group for the 2008-09 Presidential Transition Team. Howard also held roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships.

Howard holds a BS from Northwestern University, an MPA from Columbia University, and executive education certificates from Harvard Business School. He sits on several corporate boards and advisory boards where he focuses on ESG and sustainability strategies, including at: Case New Holland Industrial (NYSE:CNHI), Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM), Inari Agriculture, StateBook International, REEF Technology, and Reflection Analytics. He also chairs the Advisory Council for Harvard’s International Negotiation Program.