Hallene Lecture: Aadeel Akhtar, PhD, CEO and Founder of PSYONIC

2025 Hallene Lecture
Innovate for Impact featuring Aadeel Akhtar, PhD
Presented by The Hoeft Technology and Management Program

Get ready for Innovate for Impact, an interactive learning opportunity for students passionate about the intersection of technology, innovation, and social good. The event will feature keynote speaker, Aadeel Athkar, PhD, who will introduce the latest breakthroughs in technology, how corporate disruption is reshaping industries, and ways emerging technologies can solve critical social challenges. Whether you dream of launching a startup, driving innovation within a company, or using tech to make a meaningful impact, this lecture and networking opportunity will equip you with the insights and tools to thrive in today’s evolving tech landscape.

At a reception following the talk, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Aadeel, like-minded peers, industry mentors, and other alumni. You can expand personal and professional networks and gain fresh perspectives on developing an entrepreneurial mindset and positioning yourself for leadership in an era defined by rapid change. If you're aiming to be a tech entrepreneur, corporate innovator, or changemaker leveraging technology for good, this event is your next step toward transforming bold ideas into real-world impact.

Keynote Speaker

Aadeel Akhtar, Founder & CEO, PSYONIC

When Aadeel Akhtar was seven years old, he met a girl his age living in poverty in Pakistan. She was missing her right leg, and he couldn't understand how they could share the same ethnic heritage but face such vastly different lives. As he grew older, he realized that the difference came down to resources. Determined to make a change, he founded PSYONIC, a company committed to developing advanced prostheses that are affordable and accessible to everyone.

PSYONIC's groundbreaking Ability Hand is a prosthetic that moves all five fingers, is impact-resistant, and even restores the sense of touch for users.

Akhtar earned his PhD in neuroscience and MS in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a BS in biology and MS in computer science from Loyola University Chicago. In 2021, he was recognized as one of MIT Technology Review’s "Top 35 Innovators Under 35" and Newsweek's "America’s Top 50 Disruptors." He also landed a three-shark deal on Shark Tank in 2024.

About the Hallene Lecture

The Hallene Lecture Series honors the memory of Alan M. Hallene (’51), former president of Montgomery Company in Moline, Illinois. He served as president of both the Alumni Association and the U of I Foundation Board of Directors. He was the recipient of two of the University’s highest honors: the Alumni Association Achievement Award and the U of I Foundation’s Presidents Award. It was established by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation in recognition of his years of service on its board.

The Hallene Lecture is sponsored by The Hoeft Technology & Management Program, a joint university minor within Gies College of Business and The Grainger College of Engineering. The T&M Program brings top industry leaders and academic experts together to explore key topics in technology and management. The program is a competitive academic minor that enables students to gain a well-rounded perspective on today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities in business and innovation through a combination of traditional classroom learning and additional learning opportunities like this one, made possible by the generous gift of the Hallene family.