Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes is a managing director at Insight Partners, a global software investment firm with more than $90 billion in regulatory assets under management and over 800 portfolio companies spanning all stages of growth. Hayes brings a combination of military, governmental, and private-sector experience to his work in technology investment. He serves on the boards of several Insight Partners portfolio companies, including Alight, Immuta, Mirantis, Genesis Global, and Asylon Robotics, and is a founding board member of the National Medal of Honor Museum.

Before joining Insight Partners, Hayes was chief operating officer at VMware, where he led worldwide business operations, oversaw the company's transition to software-as-a-service, and played a key role in its acquisition by Broadcom, one of the largest technology deals in history. Prior to VMware, Hayes served as senior vice president and head of strategic operations at Cognizant Technologies, managing a $2 billion profit and loss statement for global financial services clients. Earlier in his private-sector career, Hayes spent four years at Bridgewater Associates, serving in chief of staff roles to both the CEO and COO.

Hayes's career began with more than two decades in the U.S. Navy SEALs, where he graduated as one of 19 from a class of 120. He served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, ultimately rising to commanding officer of SEAL Team Two and leading a 2,000-person special operations task force in southeastern Afghanistan. His military decorations include two Bronze Stars, one for valor in combat in Iraq, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. Following his SEAL career, Hayes was selected as a White House Fellow and served as director of defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council under both the Bush and Obama administrations, contributing to START Treaty negotiations and leading the White House response to the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia.

Hayes is the author of two national bestselling books. "Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning" draws on his military and professional experience to build a framework around excellence, agility, and purpose, with all profits donated to The 1162 Foundation, a nonprofit he founded to pay off mortgages for Gold Star families. His follow-up, "Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose," offers a practical guide for navigating major life transitions. Hayes holds an M.A. in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations. As a keynote speaker, he delivers insights on leadership, organizational culture, decision-making under pressure, and the pursuit of purpose in business and technology.