Morgan Callahan

Morgan Callahan is a highly respected strategist and innovation leader with nearly 20 years of experience driving growth across technology, sustainability, education, and nonprofit sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Strategy & Innovation at Altura Technologies in Denver, Colorado, Morgan is recognized for combining cutting-edge technology with human-centered design to help organizations adapt and thrive in today’s fast-paced world.

Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Morgan Callahan developed an early passion for systems thinking, leadership, and policy. After graduating from Lincoln High School’s International Baccalaureate program, Morgan attended the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Economics in 2006. During her undergraduate years, Morgan’s interest in change management grew as she took on internships with think tanks and became actively involved in student government.

Morgan went on to earn an MBA in Strategic Management and Organizational Innovation from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2013. As part of the program, she worked on consultancy projects for multinational clients and completed an exchange program at IE Business School in Madrid, gaining valuable insights into global business.

Career Path and Professional Experience

Morgan Callahan’s career began in 2006 at Accenture, where she worked as a Business Analyst in the Strategy and Operations division. Based in Seattle, Morgan focused on optimization projects for global clients in the consumer goods and telecommunications industries, developing skills in data visualization, financial modeling, and stakeholder engagement. These early experiences laid the groundwork for Morgan’s leadership path.

In 2009, Morgan transitioned to Teach For America as Director of Strategic Partnerships, where she contributed to expanding teacher placement in underserved districts in California. This role marked the beginning of her journey into socially driven leadership.

Morgan’s MBA years further broadened her expertise. She interned at The World Bank and researched small enterprise development in Latin America. This international experience strengthened her ability to navigate cross-cultural business dynamics.

Technology Meets Sustainability

In 2013, Morgan joined SunGrid Renewables, a solar energy startup in San Diego. As Senior Strategy Manager, Morgan led regional expansion initiatives and played a pivotal role in the company’s growth. In 2016, Morgan was promoted to Vice President of Business Development, overseeing a $12 million acquisition and driving innovation in energy storage.

Under Morgan’s leadership, SunGrid doubled its installation capacity and expanded its footprint in the American Southwest, collaborating with municipal partners on solar-plus-storage infrastructure.

Innovation Leadership at Altura Technologies

Morgan Callahan joined Altura Technologies in 2019 as Director of Strategy & Innovation. At Altura, Morgan leads digital transformation initiatives, guiding clients through innovation pipelines using artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data-driven decision-making. A key achievement has been the development of the Innovation Maturity Index, which is now used company-wide to assess strategic readiness.

Morgan also heads Altura’s Equity in Innovation Taskforce, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in product development and hiring practices.

Advisory Roles and Industry Contributions
Outside of her work at Altura, Morgan serves as an active board member of Catalyst Colorado, where she mentors underrepresented founders of startups. She also provides guidance through Built By Girls, Techstars, and Women Who Code. Additionally, Morgan is a contributor to industry publications like Harvard Business Review, TechCrunch, and Quartz, and frequently speaks at events like SXSW, Dreamforce, and the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Awards and Distinctions

Morgan Callahan’s contributions to technology and innovation have earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the Top 100 Tech Innovators by Green Tech Journal in 2018, receiving the Emerging Leader Award at the Women in Strategy Conference in 2020, and being recognized as part of the 40 Under 40 list by the Denver Business Journal in 2021.

Personal Life

Morgan now resides in Denver, where she enjoys the balance of city life and the outdoors. She shares her home with her partner, Alexis, an environmental journalist, and their rescue dog, Lilo. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys trail running, watercolor painting, and attending outdoor film festivals. She is an advocate for increased broadband access in rural Colorado and participates in discussions on tech and education equity.

Core Values and Vision

Morgan Callahan is driven by ethical innovation, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to long-term impact. Whether working with multinational corporations or mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, Morgan remains focused on integrity, empathy, and clarity. In the future, Morgan hopes to further integrate climate-forward strategies into corporate innovation models and launch an independent think tank dedicated to sustainable economic design.