About Russ
I am a…
Brainstormer, Change agent, Connector, Engineer, Idea generator, Investor, Parent, Technologist
Bio
I live in Houston, TX, USA and lead Shell's global GameChanger innovation team. GameChanger is a Shell-created program that invests in people to help mature their breakthrough ideas to proof-of-concept. Educated as a Mechanical Engineer, I am (so far) a career "Shell guy" who spent my early years exploring for and producing oil and gas around the world, then later on such things as business planning, strategy, scenarios, and technology venturing. I was raised in Omaha, and enjoy reading, cycling, and being a hockey fan. I am a newly invigorated health nut, recently converted paleo/primal foodie, and increasingly into the 'quantified self' movement - things I would love to connect with other TEDsters on!
I'm passionate about
New ideas for changing the game of energy; liberating the creative potential of people held hostage by dead paradigms, other's priorities, social pressures and antiquated processes; paleo food/life
An idea worth spreading
"Without question, the most abundant, least expensive, most underutilized and frequently abused resource in the world today is human ingenuity."
Dee Hock - Founder and CEO Emeritus VISA
Areas of expertise
Energy, Innovation, Innovation Management, technology
The TED story
I did my first TED in 2010 (Longbeach). Although I was humbled by the stories of the speakers, mostly I found myself more at home amongst the TEDsters than anywhere *but* home. Whereas my day job involves helping change agents beat the system, at TED, it felt like I was in a system that was the sum total of all change agents. In 2011, I did TEDActive in Palm Springs, and really, really enjoyed the 'do something' ethos and the more social setting (loved the sofas, garden and pool). So for 2012, I came back to TEDActive seeking new inspiration and new friends with whom I can continue to collaborate to change our collective game. Now I'm deeply hooked into the TED community with so many awesome TED friends around the world. I did my first TED talk at TEDx Sugarland in 2012 (led by one of my TEDActive friends), and through my team at work we supported TEDx Amsterdam and their ideas competition. Pumped for TEDActive 2013!