Russ Gaskin

Fostering Capacity for Collaborative Innovation & Systems Change

Russ helps people who don’t know each other, and often don’t even like each other, solve complex problems together. His unique strength is creating the conditions and frameworks that support efficient and meaningful collaboration across deep sectoral and cultural boundaries.

Russ also builds the capacities of others to lead effective collaboration by speaking and teaching around the world on changing complex systems, human-centered design, and leveraging conflict and diversity as sources of strategic innovation. In his guest faculty role, he has taught 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 founded the 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 as a Senior Fellow for the Green America Center for Sustainability Solutions, on the Expert Panel on Social Innovation & Design at the UN Development Program, and as a fellow with the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability. He has also served on the Leadership Board of the National Education Association, the Good Housekeeping Green Seal of Approval Advisory Board, and the eBay World of Good Advisory Board. Russ has an MS in Organizational Development and a BA in Sociology & Anthropology