Russ Gaskin, Senior Fellow, Strategic Design & Facilitation

Russ Gaskin is a social entrepreneur, consultant, and teacher who helps people who don't know each other, and often don't work well other, solve complex social problems. His consulting firm, CoCreative, specializes in designing collective impact networks to solve complex social problems in international development, sustainability economy, and social challenges.

As a Senior Fellow with the Center, Russ designs and facilitates our Innovation Network meetings, provides strategic advice on new opportunities for applying the Center's approach to collaborative innovation, and leads collaborative strategy development in our existing innovation networks, from rebuilding non-GMO food supply chains to eliminating harsh toxins from electronics manufacturing.

Russ speaks and teaches around the world on changing complex systems, human-centered design, and leveraging conflict and diversity as sources of strategic innovation.  He teaches workshops and graduate courses on leading social innovation, designing collective impact initiatives, polarity thinking, and creating shared value. Prior to launching CoCreative, Russ served as the chief business officer of Green America, a national leader in leveraging economic strategies to advance social equity and environmental sustainability; served as managing director of US SIF, the trade association for financial firms and institutional investors doing impact investing; and grew Green America’s Green Business Network, the country’s first network of triple-bottom line businesses. 

Russ has served on numerous leadership and advisory boards. He currently serves on the Expert Panel on Social Innovation & Design at the UN Development Program and on the advisory board of Engineers Without Borders Canada. He has also served on the Leadership Board of the National Education Association, Good Housekeeping’s Green Seal of Approval Advisory Board, and eBay’s World of Good Advisory Board.