William Budding

Budding works as Talent Acquisition Specialist for US hires at Akeneo, a software startup in Boston, and is visually impaired. Prior to joining Akeneo, he worked as a talent acquisition specialist at Harvard Medical School and as an HR Coordinator at Harvard School of Dental Medicine where he connected students with Perkins to learn best practices for treating blind and deafblind patients. Budding was a member of a cohort granted funds by the Harvard President’s Administrative Innovation Fund, and served on the review committee for the Harvard Culture Lab Innovation Fund, which awards grants for projects that promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. He also co-founded Harvard Ability+, an employee resource group for disability affinity, and, in 2015, co-produced an EdX course with Perkins on inclusive talent acquisition for employers.

A longstanding Perkins volunteer, he is advising the Howe Innovation Center and our Career Launch and College Success Programs. Budding received his BA in Philosophy from Knox College in Galesburg, IL where he was active in disability-related issues on campus, founding a disability student group and conducting post-baccalaureate research into the experiences of disabled college students. You’ll find him now in Greater Boston singing with choirs, playing guitar, and enjoying regular stand-up and improv shows around the city.