Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes is COO at VMware where he leads worldwide business operations and the SaaS transformation. Prior to VMware, he was SVP, Strategic Operations at Cognizant and ran the $2B P&L for global financial services. He spent 4 years at Bridgewater, in Chief of Staff to CEO and COO roles. Hayes also spent 20 years in the Navy SEALs where his last job was Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, overseeing a 2,000-person Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan. Hayes was a White House Fellow, Director of Defense Policy&Strategy at the National Security Council, and Deputy Commander in Anbar Province, Iraq. He has Bronze Stars for combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and a Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House. He is on the board of Immuta, American Equity Life, Medal of Honor Museum and published a bestselling book “Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning” and donates all profits to pay off mortgages for families of fallen teammates.