Skye Blanks serves as the Chief Operations Officer for the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing small businesses globally. In addition, Skye is the Director of the ICSB Knowledge Hubs (KHubs) program, a network of institutions and partnerships designed to capture, share, and exchange development insights to accelerate progress for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) worldwide. Skye holds an MBA with a certification in Financial Management from the George Washington University School of Business and a BA in International Affairs with a concentration in International Development from GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious GW Presidential Fellowship program. Before his tenure at ICSB, Skye gained valuable leadership experience serving as a project manager in GW’s School of Business, Department of Management. Additionally, he worked as a Treasury Scholar in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Development Results and Accountability within the Office of International Affairs, contributing to critical global development initiatives. Skye’s commitment to small business development began early, when he was a part of GW’s inaugural team for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development’s (CNHED) Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE) program. ELEVATE provides top-tier training for minority-owned small businesses (MBEs) in Washington, DC, equipping them with skills to enhance their operations, increase revenue, and create jobs. As an entrepreneur, Skye has co-founded the Premo Cannabis Company and established Herman Todd Consulting (HTC) Group, furthering his impact across multiple industries. He also volunteers his expertise as a mentor for Yale’s Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking (Tsai CITY), supporting student innovators in transforming ideas into impactful solutions. Additionally, he is an active volunteer with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, championing access to education and leadership development. Skye’s diverse professional and entrepreneurial pursuits reflect his passion for fostering innovation, economic growth, and leadership across communities and industries.