LAI Exclusive
Nate Mook
Social Impact Entrepreneur & CEO of All Hands & Hearts; Former CEO of World Central Kitchen
- Mission-driven leader who, during his five years as CEO, transformed World Central Kitchen into a leading global nonprofit, growing from $1 million to $400 million a year generated in global impact
- Partners with esteemed nonprofits and world leaders to spearhead humanitarian initiatives around the globe and amplify the voices of unsung heroes who are driving change
- Shares valuable lessons on building a purpose-driven movement from the ground up and leading through crisis and change, while helping organizations connect people to their mission through storytelling
Check fees and availability for Nate Mook
About Nate Mook
Download ProfileNate Mook is one of the world’s most compelling voices on crisis leadership, humanitarian innovation, and the power of storytelling to drive massive change. A proven leader who has mobilized billions of dollars in relief efforts and redefined how the world responds to disaster, Mook brings audiences inside the pivotal moments where bold decisions and rapid action meant the difference between life and death.
From 2018 to 2022, he served as the first CEO of World Central Kitchen (WCK), where he led the organization’s transformation from a scrappy startup with under $1 million in revenue into a global humanitarian force raising more than $500 million annually. In 2025, he stepped into the role of CEO at All Hands & Hearts, the disaster relief nonprofit co-founded by Petra Němcová, and also co-founded the Hachiko Foundation to aid animals affected by war in Ukraine’s frontline communities.
Having led emergency response operations everywhere from the war zones of Ukraine to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Mook has earned a reputation for going where others won’t—and returning with stories that reshape how we think about resilience and human connection. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, his presentations blend gripping first-hand accounts from the frontlines with insights on scaling impact, building teams under pressure, and turning the seemingly impossible into tangible solutions.
After his tenure at WCK, Mook was appointed Special Advisor on Ukraine for the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, earning the Order of Merit from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his efforts on behalf of the Ukrainian people. He currently serves on the boards of March For Our Lives and Save Ukraine, and advises Razom for Ukraine’s advocacy work. Mook began his career as a tech entrepreneur before moving into film, producing HBO’s Baltimore Rising and executive producing Ron Howard’s Emmy-nominated documentary We Feed People. He also directed Undiscovered Haiti with José Andrés, co-produced by National Geographic and PBS. A longtime TED collaborator and Gates Foundation “Change Hero,” Mook continues to amplify underrepresented voices. When not traveling, he lives in Washington, DC, with his cat, Jinx Furdinand.
Video Gallery
Bringing Maslow, Food, and FEMA: Meals after a disaster with Nate Mook (GovSummit 19)
What we learned by driving 20,000 km across the planet | Nate Mook & Steve Garguilo | TEDxVilnius
The Future of Borders | Nate Mook & Steve Garguilo | TEDxCarthage
Bringing Maslow, Food, and FEMA: Meals after a disaster with Nate Mook (GovSummit 19)
What we learned by driving 20,000 km across the planet | Nate Mook & Steve Garguilo | TEDxVilnius
The Future of Borders | Nate Mook & Steve Garguilo | TEDxCarthage
Speech Topics
Download TopicsPrior to Nate Mook’s successful tenure as CEO for Chef José Andrés’ global nonprofit World Central Kitchen, the organization was a one-employee operation bringing in less than $1 million in revenue each year. WCK grew leaps and bounds with Mook at the helm, becoming one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations and generating $400 million toward global impact by the end of his tenure. In this talk, Mook shares powerful stories rich with valuable leadership lessons for centering organizations around purpose, navigating through change and disruption, and sparking business growth while serving a greater mission.
Nate Mook’s action-packed career as a filmmaker, activist, and entrepreneur has taken him to every corner of the globe and he’s seen firsthand the potential of people to work together to make positive change in business and society. In this talk, he draws from his experiences leading humanitarian initiatives all over the world to share incredible stories of people helping people and demonstrates to groups how uplifting others and reaching business goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive — in fact, they go hand-in-hand. Mook engages audiences with thought-provoking insights for how to turn ideas into impact and opens people’s eyes to how everyone is capable of being a changemaker and making a difference in this world.
Environmental, social, and governance criteria are critical for any business, especially as consumers and investors look to support companies that can solve a problem or satisfy a need while having a net positive external effect. As a mission-driven leader and two-time CEO of humanitarian organizations, Nate Mook possesses expert insights for how leaders can build innovative, high-performing organizations while balancing the bottom line with an intentional commitment to benefitting others and the world around them through environmental, social, and governance principles.
Related Links
This Former DC CEO Is Now Saving Pets in Ukraine
Read
Reston Native Nate Mook Honored For Humanitarian Relief Efforts
Read
World Central Kitchen CEO abruptly exits amid nonprofit’s rapid growth
Read
Man Sees Ukrainian Dogs Waiting Patiently In Line, Then Realizes Why
Read
Video: Nate Mook: "We hope to continue this to make a difference as long as we're needed here"
Read
Big Ideas in 24 Hours
Our veteran team is standing by to help with big ideas and real perspective. Call us at +44 20 3038 4689, email us at [email protected], or click below for a custom speaker proposal.
Similar Speakers
LAI Exclusive
William McNulty
Marine Veteran, Co-Founder of Team Rubicon & White Stork
LAI Exclusive
Jake Harriman
Former Marine Force Recon Platoon Commander, Mission-Driven Changemaker, Founder of Nuru International and The Brickyard
