Holly Wise is a professor of practice in global sustainability at Virginia Tech University and a recognized leader in international development, public-private partnerships, and social innovation. She previously taught in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service Global Human Development Program where she designed and led the certificate in Social Innovation in Global Development.

Holly spent 26 years in the Foreign Service with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), achieving the diplomatic rank of minister counselor. She founded and served as the first secretariat director of the Global Development Alliance, USAID's pioneering model for building strategic partnerships between public and private organizations to address global development challenges. During her leadership, 300 alliances were formed with $1.1 billion in USAID funding.

In addition to leadership roles with organizations, including FHI 360 and LivingGoods, she serves as chair of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production and sits on the board of Grassroots Business Partners. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Connecticut College, she holds advanced degrees from Yale University and the National Defense University.