Dr. Mardy Leathers, DMgt
Policy Economist, Founder of Hashtag Strategies
Decision Education is essential because it provides students with the cognitive tools needed to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and trade-offs—conditions that increasingly characterize our economy and society. In a world shaped by rapid technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and evolving labor markets, knowledge alone is no longer enough. What truly matters is the ability to interpret information, assess risks, weigh competing priorities, and make sound judgments over time.
Dr. Mardy Leathers is a policy economist and founder of Hashtag Strategies, where he advises senior government leaders and global executives on economic security, industrial strategy, and national competitiveness amid accelerating geopolitical and technological change. His work centers on how nations align labor supply, industrial capacity, and public policy to sustain growth, productivity, and strategic advantage.
Dr. Leathers brings extensive international experience shaping labor and industrial policy across advanced and emerging economies. He has worked with government and industry leaders in New Zealand and Australia on skills-based industrial strategies; supported business-led policy engagement through the B20 in South Africa; and advised on workforce modernization and institutional capacity-building in Guatemala. His global perspective is further informed by collaboration with the International Labour Organization, connecting labor standards, skills systems, and economic resilience.
Previously, Dr. Leathers served as a U.S. state workforce development director and elected official, leading large-scale apprenticeship and talent initiatives designed to strengthen regional and sectoral competitiveness.
