Learn. Lead. Serve.
The HKS Alumni Network of San Francisco ("HKSSF") is dedicated to supporting alumni in the greater San Francisco Bay Area in furtherance of the mission of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government: to improve public policy and public leadership so that people can live in societies that are safer, freer, more just, and more sustainably prosperous.
Join Us!
You'll be added to the local membership list and will be informed of upcoming events!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, April 1st, 2025
Make Work Fair : Book Talk with Siri Chilazi
Join us in supporting HKS Women and Public Policy Program Senior Researcher Siri Chilazi at her upcoming book talk celebrating the release of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results. She’ll be in conversation with Elaine Lin Hering at Book Passage in San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
"In Make Work Fair, Iris Bohnet and Siri Chilazi offer data-backed, actionable solutions that build fairness into the very fabric of the workplace. Their methods—tested at many organizations, and grounded in data proven to work in the real world—help us make fairer—and simply better–decisions. Using their three-part framework, employees at all levels can execute and embed equity into their everyday practices."
Date: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 | 5:30pm
Location: Book Passage, Ferry Building, San Francisco
Free admission, open seatingMembers of the HKSSF Executive Committee will be attending—we hope to see you there!
Full event details are available on the Book Passage website here.
Past Events
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Global Networking Night
Join HKSSF at HCSF’s Annual Global Networking Night Event
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Spark Social SF – the perfect spot for connecting with fellow Harvard Alumni!
Wednesday, March 19 | 5:30pm-8:30pm
Spark Social - Yosemite backstage + porch area fire pits, 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North, San Francisco, CA 94158
Register HERE to get your discounted $25 ticket!
What to Expect:
Spark Social SF, located in the heart of Mission Bay, offers the perfect backdrop for networking and conversation.
- Food Trucks and Drinks: Enjoy a variety of delicious food and drink options to satisfy your cravings.
- Each ticket comes with 1 ticket ($14 value) towards food or drinks.
- Fire Pits: Cozy up around the fire and strike up new conversations.
- Rain or Shine: The venue will be fully tented and heated to ensure everyone stays comfortable, no matter the weather.
Transportation: Spark Social SF is conveniently located just a 10-minute walk from Caltrain, 2 minutes from the Muni T-line (Mission Rock Stop), with ample parking available nearby
September 18:
Virtual Event with Guy Kawasaki
We are excited to announce an exclusive webinar lead by the HKS Women’s Alumni Network and co-sponsored by the HKS San Francisco Alumni Network and the HBS Women's Association, featuring renowned Silicon Valley author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Guy Kawasaki, where he will delve into the core principles of Kawasaki's latest book, "Think Remarkable"
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast. He was previously the chief evangelist at Apple and worked directly with Steve Jobs. He was also Mercedes Benz brand ambassador and trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has also written The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and twelve other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
About the Book:
"Think Remarkable" serves as a roadmap to authentic leadership, grounded in the stories of over 200 remarkable people, including Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, and Carol Dweck. It addresses the numerous obstacles to success and guides readers in crafting action plans uniquely tailored to their personal visions.
An essential guide to focusing on what truly matters in life, "Think Remarkable" is perfect for anyone who wants to make the world—and themselves—a little (or a lot) better. It invites you to harness the power of your authentic leadership, mindset, and actions to lead a fulfilling life.
June 11 in Menlo Park and SF:
The Media and the 2024 U.S. Elections
Record-low levels of trust in U.S. institutions, including the media, is just one factor affecting the 2024 U.S. elections. How can journalists respThgeond? What has been learned from past cycles, and what should be done differently?
Join Professor Nancy Gibbs, director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and former editor-in-chief of TIME, as she discusses these issues and more in two events in the SF Bay Area. The event in San Francisco will include attendance by incoming HKS Dean Jeremy Weinstein.
Registration information was sent to local alumni via email. Contact us at info@hkssf.org if you didn't receive this email.
April 11 in San Francisco
Joseph Kalt and Megan Minoka Hill discussed the HKS Project on Indigenous Governance and Development, whose mission is to arm Indigenous Nations with the tools needed to govern effectively and to strengthen their economic, social, and cultural fabrics.
March 25: GenAI + Spring Networking
Photo credit: Ruma Samdani
Photo credit: Jeanine LeFlore
Photo credit: Ruma Samdani
Photo credit: Ruma Samdani
2023 Holiday Mixer @ Equinox Van Mission
Photo credit: John Butler
Photo credit: John Butler
Local Alumni Resources
Connect with HKSSF
Network with alumni and stay informed on local activities!
Executive Committee
Terms beginning November 26, 2024
Jon Elam, MC/MPA '81
Board Member At Large
Jon is a retired local and regional public administrator with a focus on the areas of climate management, public works, and community development. He lives in Brentwood in the East Bay, where he is an active community volunteer, and he serves on the Board of Directors of La Clinica de La Raza community health center in Oakland. He has enjoyed meeting many HKS graduates and looks forward to welcoming others to HKS SF events.
Heather O'Neill, MPP 1997
Heather O'Neill is President and CEO of Advanced Energy United, a clean energy business association working to accelerate the energy transition in the U.S. Prior to taking on her role as CEO, Heather served as President for the organization, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, responsible for deepening and broadening Advanced Energy United's relationships with funders and building partnerships with allied organizations that advance industry growth.
Heather has spent her career helping build and grow mission-driven organizations. Before joining Advanced Energy United, Heather established and led the environment portfolio at the Robertson Foundation, a $1 billion family philanthropy. Previously, she was Director of Public Affairs for Danco Laboratories LLC, the women's health pharmaceutical company responsible for bringing Mifeprex (mifepristone) through the FDA approval process and making medication abortion available to women in the U.S.Heather lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons. She is a graduate of Harvard College with an A.B. in Government and Harvard Kennedy School with an Master of Public Policy. Heather serves on the board of directors for Climate Action Reserve, HKS SF, and on the Energy Transformation Advisory Board for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Brittany Janis, MC/MPA 2019
Brittany Janis is the Executive Director of the Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP). She also currently serves on the board of the Women’s Environmental Network SF.
Prior to joining OEDP, Brittany was the Associate Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Before taking on that role she served as the Associate Director of Belfer's Arctic Initiative, leading a team focused on climate-driven transformations in the Arctic and their global impact.
Brittany co-founded Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, fostering climate action and collaboration across Harvard’s global community. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, specializing in environmental policy.
With a background in nonprofit leadership, Brittany served as a Major Gifts Officer at the Environmental Defense Fund and as President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter.
In her free time, Brittany enjoys hiking, biking, and cooking vegetarian feasts with her family and dog in San Francisco and western Massachusetts.
Lawland Long, MC/MPA 1990
Photo and bio coming soon!
Heidi Sieck, MC/MPA 2012
Photo and bio coming soon!
