Hertz Foundation Announces Robbee Baker Kosak Leadership Fund to Support World-Class Speakers in Science and Technology
The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation has announced the Robbee Baker Kosak Leadership Fund, which provides new funds for securing world-class leaders in science and technology to speak at its signature events and an annual prize to recognize speakers’ leadership. The fund was established in honor of Kosak, who is retiring on Jan 1, 2025, after almost 10 years as Hertz Foundation president.
The new fund will support the Robbee Baker Kosak Leadership Prize, which will be awarded at the annual Hertz Summer Workshop, the foundation’s largest event of the year, to one speaker who embodies transformational leadership and inspires excellence from their community. The prize will be administered by the Hertz Fellowship and Program Council, the foundation’s advisory body, composed of Hertz Fellows and other volunteers from the science and technology community.
“How can you adequately express gratitude to someone who has shared her passion, vision and tireless dedication to growing and transforming the Hertz Foundation?” asked Stephen Fantone, chair of the Hertz Foundation’s Board of Directors and president and CEO at Optikos, during the announcement at the foundation’s Fall Board Dinner at the American Academy of Arts and Science in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October.
Kosak’s retirement caps decades of transformational leadership of, and service to, educational institutions. At the board dinner, she was recognized for her pioneering work in expanding the field of global philanthropy in higher education, and developing philanthropy and partnership networks on behalf of the scientific community.
“How can you adequately express gratitude to someone who has shared her passion, vision and tireless dedication to growing and transforming the Hertz Foundation?”
Since joining the foundation in 2015, Kosak has guided the organization into a new era of philanthropic leadership. With an emphasis on relationship building with Hertz Fellows and donors, she positioned the organization for long-term financial stability by quadrupling gift revenue. She prioritized professional support for the network of 1,300 Hertz Fellows by expanding opportunities such as mentoring, research collaborations and workshops to fuel the fellows’ impact and success.
"Robbee Kosak was the leader we needed ten years ago to build the financial strength and sustainability of the foundation, while deepening Hertz Fellows' experiences through thoughtful programming and expanded resources. We are incredibly grateful to her for such enduring impact,” remarked Hertz Board Member and Secretary Carla Newman.
Under her leadership, the Hertz Foundation expanded the number of fellowships offered, and deepened the fellowship experience through the formation of partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, Draper, the Hertz Corporation, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 10x Genomics and the Innovation Tri Valley Leadership Group.
“Robbee Kosak was the leader we needed ten years ago to build the financial strength and sustainability of the foundation.”
Founder, ThreeThought, LLC
Dick Miles, member of the Hertz Foundation board of directors and the presidential selection committee in 2015, reflected on Robbee’s ability to challenge norms and be the transformational leader the Foundation needed:
“Kosak came from Carnegie Mellon University with spectacular credentials. She brought leadership, compassion and a wonderful sense of humor to the Hertz Foundation. The Hertz Foundation has blossomed, thanks to her vision and commitment. We wish her and her husband Tom the best in their much-deserved retirement,” said Miles, also a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University.
“Kosak has positioned the Hertz Foundation for further growth,” added Fantone. “Its financial position is strong, and so are its people — from an empowered staff to an engaged community of Fellows volunteers, donors and partners. Kosak has left an indelible impact on the foundation and its Fellows that will reverberate into the future.”
In establishing the fund, the Hertz Foundation hopes to inspire each member of the Hertz community to extend Kosak’s legacy by actively engaging, connecting and supporting its work, whether through financial gifts or volunteer service.
About the Hertz Foundation
Founded in 1957, the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation accelerates solutions to the world's most pressing challenges, from enhancing national security to improving human health. Through the Hertz Fellowship, the Foundation identifies the nation's most promising young innovators and disruptors in science and technology, empowering them to become the future leaders who keep our country safe and secure. Today, a community of more than 1,300 Hertz Fellows are a powerful, solution-oriented network of our nation's top scientific minds, working to address complex problems and contributing to the economic vitality of our country.
Your generosity helps bring recognized speakers to signature foundation events and supports the Robbee Baker Kosak Leadership Prize awarded at the annual Summer Workshop.