Russ Shumaker

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT RUSS SHUMAKER

I didn’t start my career in a boardroom. I started it with a paintbrush.I launched my first business during the Great Recession because no one was hiring fresh college graduates with degrees in Greek and Hebrew. That experience taught me things no classroom could—how to win customers, how to build a team, and how to make decisions when the consequences are personal. It also taught me how isolating leadership can be when you don’t have trusted peers around you.Today, I lead strategy and marketing for a $300M+ business unit at World Vision, where I work with executives, lead AI initiatives, and help build systems that scale across complex organizations. Along the way, I’ve founded and run businesses, built consulting practices, and advised leaders navigating growth, uncertainty, and change.My academic path includes both an MA in theology and an MBA, which reflects a question that has followed me throughout my career: how do you build a successful business without losing your soul in the process?That question led me to become a Convene Chair.I now work with Christian CEOs and business owners who want more than surface-level answers. Leaders who carry real responsibility—for their business, their families, and their future—and who want a confidential space to think clearly, sharpen their strategy, and grow as leaders.My leadership philosophy is simple: clarity creates courage. When leaders have a trusted table where they can speak honestly and be challenged by peers who understand the weight they carry, they make better decisions and build healthier companies.If you’re a CEO or business owner navigating growth and want a place to work on your business and your leadership with other serious peers, I’d welcome the conversation.