“We Are Sky, and Everything Else Is Weather”
Mike Seymour is a distinguished executive, educator, author, and humanitarian whose remarkable career spans more than 60 years across education, marketing, product development, nonprofit leadership, and organizational strategy. As President of The Heritage Institute, he has dedicated more than three decades to advancing professional development for educators, strengthening educational outcomes, and championing innovative approaches to teaching and learning. His professional journey reflects a rare combination of corporate leadership, entrepreneurial vision, educational expertise, and a deeply rooted commitment to serving others. Guided by the personal philosophy, “We Are Sky, and Everything Else Is Weather,” Mike approaches leadership with perspective, compassion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in humanity’s capacity for positive transformation.
Mike began his professional career in the competitive world of corporate marketing and advertising in New York City, developing foundational expertise in consumer behavior, brand management, strategic communications, and product innovation. At Grey Advertising, he worked within the Procter & Gamble advertising group, contributing to marketing initiatives for nationally recognized consumer products. He subsequently joined Avon Products, where he assumed increasingly significant responsibilities across children’s products, fragrances, cosmetics, bath products, and skincare. His contributions included developing the highly successful Snoopy Comb and Brush product, which achieved approximately one million units in sales. His leadership responsibilities eventually extended to product categories representing approximately $500 million in annual revenue, providing him with substantial experience in business operations, commercial strategy, and large-scale product management.
Building upon this corporate foundation, Mike expanded his experience through positions with Gillette Corporation and Spalding Sporting Goods. At Gillette, he served as a brand manager for Foamy shaving cream, contributing to brand strategy and new product development. At Spalding, he managed sportswear product initiatives, including the development of men’s and women’s tennis apparel and men’s golfwear. These experiences sharpened his understanding of competitive markets, organizational growth, consumer engagement, and the importance of translating innovative ideas into commercially viable products. His early career established a versatile business perspective that would later prove invaluable in managing educational enterprises and guiding mission-driven organizations.
Despite his corporate accomplishments, Mike felt increasingly drawn toward a professional path centered on personal development, education, and meaningful service. Pursuing this calling, he earned a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University, building upon his undergraduate education in Comparative Literature at Columbia University. His subsequent experience as a therapist deepened his understanding of human behavior, interpersonal relationships, communication, and emotional well-being. This transition represented a defining chapter in his career, allowing him to integrate the strategic capabilities developed in business with a more personal commitment to helping individuals and communities flourish.
In 1993, Mike assumed leadership of The Heritage Institute, a Washington-based organization specializing in continuing education and professional development for K–12 teachers. As President and Co-Director, he has overseen strategic planning, financial management, curriculum development, educational programming, and organizational growth. Under his leadership, the institute expanded its reach throughout the Pacific Northwest, across the United States, and into international schools. The organization has served more than 2,000 teachers annually, providing professional learning opportunities designed to strengthen classroom practices, inspire educators, and improve student engagement and academic performance. Mike also helped guide the institute’s transition toward online education, broadening access to professional development while maintaining a focus on meaningful learning experiences.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Mike has played an active role in educational consulting, leadership development, and organizational improvement. He has worked with schools, school districts, and educational service districts on initiatives involving strategic visioning, organizational planning, conflict resolution, leadership training, and support for at-risk students. His work with the Bellevue, Everett, and Auburn school districts reflects his ability to engage diverse educational stakeholders and address complex institutional challenges. Through these experiences, Mike has developed a practical understanding of how organizational leadership, collaborative decision-making, and effective communication can influence outcomes for educators, students, and communities.
Mike’s commitment to youth development is further demonstrated through his leadership with Community for Youth, an innovative Seattle-based mentoring organization supporting disadvantaged students in underperforming high schools. Having served as a board member, Chairman of the Board, and volunteer Executive Director, he helped advance a mentoring model that paired at-risk students with supportive adult mentors and provided regular developmental workshops. The initiative focused particularly on ninth-grade students, a population vulnerable to academic disengagement and school dropout. According to Mike’s professional account, the program achieved dropout rates as low as 2%, compared with rates reaching 40% in some school environments. This experience reinforced his belief that compassionate leadership, consistent mentorship, and meaningful personal relationships can dramatically influence young people’s futures.
His humanitarian vision also inspired him to establish Youth for a New World, a nonprofit initiative sponsored by The Heritage Institute. Through this organization, Mike helped engage several hundred students from the United States, Europe, and Africa in exploring global challenges and developing locally relevant solutions. The initiative encouraged young people to understand the interconnected nature of social, environmental, and humanitarian issues while translating their learning into constructive action within their schools, families, and communities. His approach emphasized global citizenship, critical thinking, collaboration, and the importance of empowering younger generations to become active participants in creating a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Mike’s international humanitarian involvement extends to Burundi, East Central Africa, where he collaborated with peacebuilder Prosper Ndabishuriye in efforts to assist families affected by ethnic conflict. Their work contributed to securing new homes for approximately 3,000 refugee families displaced by violence between Hutu and Tutsi communities. This deeply meaningful experience became the subject of his book, If You’re Gonna Kill Them, You Must Kill Us First, which recounts the extraordinary courage and humanitarian commitment demonstrated amid conflict and displacement. Through this work, Mike has illustrated how compassion, cross-cultural collaboration, and principled action can help rebuild communities and restore hope under exceptionally difficult circumstances.
An accomplished author and educational thought leader, Mike also wrote Educating for Humanity: Rethinking the Purposes of Education, a work advocating a broader and more interconnected vision of learning. The book challenges conventional assumptions about education and emphasizes the importance of preparing students to understand their responsibilities within an increasingly interdependent world. It was adopted by San Francisco State University as a principal philosophy of education text. Mike additionally created the Awakening Self blog, exploring human consciousness, personal growth, and the evolving understanding of global interconnectedness. His writing reflects a lifelong interest in integrating intellectual inquiry, personal awareness, and social responsibility.
Environmental stewardship represents another significant dimension of Mike’s leadership and public advocacy. In 2013, he participated in Climate Reality training associated with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the Climate Reality organization. Following this experience, he delivered more than fifteen community presentations addressing climate change and environmental awareness. He also supported the development of Climate Change for Teachers and Students, an online course offered through The Heritage Institute. These initiatives demonstrate his ability to translate complex global challenges into accessible educational experiences while encouraging informed discussion and responsible community action.
Mike’s professional perspective is enriched by extensive international exposure, including experiences in France, Spain, Holland, Greece, Israel, Egypt, India, and Nepal, in addition to his humanitarian engagement in Africa. These experiences have strengthened his appreciation for cultural diversity, global perspectives, and the shared human values that transcend geographic boundaries. Alongside English, he possesses conversational Spanish abilities and some working knowledge of French. His more than 40 years of engagement with Buddhist studies and meditation, complemented by Christian contemplative practices, have further shaped his reflective approach to leadership, emphasizing mindfulness, compassion, self-awareness, and respect for others.
Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated a sustained commitment to public speaking, educational advocacy, and community engagement. His presentations have addressed leadership, educational improvement, environmental awareness, and broader questions of personal and collective responsibility. His professional background also includes recognition for military service, as well as participation in leadership and public education initiatives. Whether addressing educators, working alongside nonprofit leaders, or engaging with community stakeholders, he brings an approachable communication style grounded in experience, thoughtful reflection, and a genuine desire to encourage positive change.
Today, Mike brings an exceptional breadth of experience to potential board and advisory opportunities, particularly within education, nonprofit organizations, youth development, community services, and smaller mission-driven enterprises. His previous board leadership, combined with his expertise in strategic planning, organizational operations, marketing, financial oversight, curriculum development, and stakeholder engagement, positions him to contribute meaningfully to governance and long-term organizational direction. He understands both the commercial disciplines required to sustain an organization and the human-centered leadership necessary to fulfill its mission. His experience navigating corporate environments, managing an educational enterprise, and advancing nonprofit initiatives enables him to approach boardroom challenges with sound judgment, versatility, and a balanced perspective.
At this stage of his professional journey, Mike is especially motivated by opportunities to serve others and support organizations whose work creates lasting value for individuals and communities. With substantial experience, a compassionate leadership philosophy, and the availability to devote meaningful time to board service, he seeks to contribute not merely as an advisor but as a committed partner in organizational progress. His legacy is defined not simply by the businesses he has helped manage, the educators he has supported, or the communities he has served, but by his enduring belief that leadership carries a responsibility to elevate others. Mike Seymour embodies the conviction that meaningful success is measured through positive human impact, thoughtful stewardship, and the opportunities created for future generations.
Character:
Mike exemplifies integrity, compassion, humility, and an enduring commitment to service, consistently placing human well-being and community advancement at the center of his professional endeavors. His humanitarian work, educational advocacy, and nonprofit leadership demonstrate a values-driven approach grounded in empathy, personal responsibility, and the belief that every individual deserves an opportunity to thrive.
Knowledge:
With more than six decades of professional experience, Mike possesses extensive expertise spanning corporate marketing, brand management, education, nonprofit governance, organizational operations, leadership development, and international humanitarian initiatives. His combination of executive leadership, academic preparation, authorship, and practical experience provides a multidisciplinary perspective that enables him to understand complex challenges and contribute informed guidance across diverse organizational environments.
Strategic:
Mike brings a proven ability to identify opportunities, guide organizational transitions, develop innovative programs, and align operational priorities with long-term institutional goals. His leadership in expanding The Heritage Institute, advancing digital education, managing commercial product portfolios, and supporting nonprofit initiatives reflects an adaptable strategic mindset focused on sustainable growth, meaningful outcomes, and responsible stewardship.
Communication:
An experienced educator, author, public speaker, and collaborative leader who communicates complex ideas with clarity, authenticity, and an understanding of diverse audiences. Through professional training, educational consulting, published works, public presentations, and international engagement, he has demonstrated an ability to inspire dialogue, build trust, strengthen relationships, and motivate others toward shared objectives.
