2017 Award Recipient
MichaelIofee
Project TILE (Talks on Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship)
Project TILE (Talks on Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship)
Michael Iofee is the founder of TILE (Talks about Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship), a nonprofit that offers free monthly conversations with innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs for high school and college students, particularly from low-income backgrounds. TILE bridges the resource gap for underserved students, creating a more equitable and diverse future of innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Through Michael’s program, tens of thousands of students have gained insights and connections that enable them to pursue their goals.
Ninety percent of TILE’s chapters are minority-led, and roughly twenty-five percent of the audience comes from a low-income background. In less than one year, TILE has grown to 128 locations in 23 countries—including Slovakia, Yemen, India, and Ethiopia—with over 400 student leaders and volunteers helping organize and operate events. At the time of receiving the Award, TILE was the world’s largest conversation series.