Michael Ellison

Michael Ellison is the co-founder and CEO of CodePath, a nonprofit organization focused on transforming higher education and increasing diversity among software engineers, chief technology officers, and founders. Under Ellison's leadership, CodePath has become a leading educator of computer science students in the United States, reshaping curricula at more than 150 colleges and reaching over 700 institutions through scalable programs and strategic partnerships. The organization offers industry-vetted courses and career support tailored to first-generation and low-income students, with more than 30,000 alumni working at over 2,000 companies, including technology firms such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta.

Ellison's approach to CodePath is informed by his experience growing up without early access to computer science education. He has used this perspective to drive systemic change in technology talent development, establishing partnerships with technology companies, venture capital firms, and philanthropies. These efforts have expanded access to technical education and positioned CodePath as a model for collaboration between industry and academia to address inequities in the technology workforce.

Ellison has been recognized as a Schmidt Futures Innovation Fellow and an Industry Changemaker by Walmart Black & Unlimited Initiative during the NAACP Image Awards. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, including the Milken Institute Global Conference, where he discusses topics such as diversifying the technology industry and reprogramming education. Ellison's public speaking highlights overcoming systemic barriers and building inclusive pathways to technical careers.