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Helen Young Hayes: Colorado 500 – Nonprofits & Philanthropy – 2026

Founder, CEO, ActivateWork

ColoradoBiz Staff //April 21, 2026//

Helen Young Hayes: Colorado 500 – Nonprofits & Philanthropy – 2026

Founder, CEO, ActivateWork

ColoradoBiz Staff //April 21, 2026//

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Helen Young Hayes is founder and chief executive officer of ActivateWork, a Denver-based nonprofit that recruits, trains and coaches individuals for technology careers. Since founding the organization in 2016, she has helped more than 500 Coloradans enter high-growth technology fields, achieving an average 123 percent wage increase and an 87 percent job retention rate after one year. Hayes previously spent 17 years at Janus Capital as managing director of investments and portfolio manager, overseeing multi-billion-dollar funds. She also founded Colorado Inclusive Economy, a CEO-led diversity initiative. Kathryn Harris, president and COO of ActivateWork, said Hayes is “a person of action” who “rallies her community to solve real problems for real people.” Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University.

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