About
Carole Carlson brings more than 20 years of experience in mission-driven leadership and applied learning, with a longstanding focus on helping leaders and organizations translate ideas into action and create meaningful impact.
Most recently, Carlson served as Professor of the Practice at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy & Management. There, she led the Social Impact MBA Program and taught MBA and executive education courses in leadership, strategy, and social entrepreneurship. Earlier in her career, she was a senior planner for the city of Cambridge, where she collaborated with city leaders to develop and expand innovative housing and public health programs. She has also held leadership roles in strategy consulting, advising city governments, foundations, and other organizations on strategy, economic development, and implementation.
Carlson is the author or co-author of dozens of case studies, including multiple HBS best sellers, and the textbook “Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” and has served as a Fulbright Specialist. Carole holds a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar, a Master of City Planning from MIT, and a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Waterloo.
