Rashad Robinson

Rashad Robinson is one of the leading social change strategists in America. He led Color Of Change for 13 years, transforming it from a small startup into a powerhouse of Black activism and a national force for social change. Before COC, he led the advocacy and programmatic work at GLAAD during a period of major cultural and political progress for LGBT people. In 2021, he also served as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder.

Rashad’s strategies and leadership have played a critical role in winning real change: securing the right to marry for LGBT people; taking on the financial and media infrastructure that supports right-wing extremists; launching a movement to elect a new generation of local prosecutors dedicated to police accountability and criminal justice reform; and winning policy changes across Silicon Valley, Hollywood and Wall Street (including launching the historic $7 billion advertiser boycott of Meta).

Rashad has counseled leaders across government, politics, philanthropy, and the nonprofit and corporate sectors. He consults on a wide range of projects—from rewriting corporate policies to developing TV shows to shaping the strategy for social marketing campaigns. He is also a sought-after speaker, has testified in front of Congress, and has appeared in conversation with Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Hilary Clinton, Prince Harry, Kerry Washington and other newsmakers.

His work, insights and essays are featured widely in media: CNN, MSNBC, BET, NPR, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Essence and more. Among many honors, Rashad won a Webby Award for Best Political Podcast and was featured multiple times on Fast Company’s List of Most Innovative Companies.

Rashad’s forthcoming book—offering both lessons from the frontlines of social movements and a handbook for winning change in our era—will be published this year by One World Random House.