Practitioners, not theorists
Our consultants have held the actual roles - president, provost, CFO, dean. They know what it takes to move an institution forward under real constraints.
Our story
Built for higher
Built for higher
education. By people who lived it.
CBT was founded by higher education professionals who saw a gap in the ecosystem - and built something to fill it. Not another consulting firm. A curated network of practitioners who've actually held the roles.
200+Engagements completed across community colleges, universities, and nonprofits.
30 yrsAverage consultant experience - every team handpicked.
2008Founded during the financial crisis. Still here. Still showing up.
Our history
Founded in a storm.
Founded in a storm.
Proven through many more.
CBT launched in 2008 - one of the most difficult moments in higher education's recent history. While institutions were left to navigate the financial crisis largely alone, we were there. Providing experienced, steady counsel when it was needed most.
That commitment has never wavered. Through every challenge that followed, CBT has shown up - not with generic playbooks, but with practitioners who understand the terrain and partners who stay the course.
Seventeen years later, we're still here. And so are the institutions we serve.
2008
CBT founded during the financial crisis, supporting colleges through unprecedented uncertainty.
2008–2019
200+ engagements across community colleges, universities, and nonprofits nationwide.
2020
COVID-19 disrupts higher ed. CBT partners with institutions navigating remote transitions, budget crises, and enrollment drops.
2024–Today
AI reshapes the landscape. CBT helps institutions build thoughtful, mission-grounded AI strategies.
Our approach
The right expert for your institution. Every time.
Most consulting firms give you whoever's available. We work differently - designing each team around your specific challenge, culture, and goals.
Fit matters more than availability
Every project team is handpicked. We match consultants to institutions based on culture, context, and subject matter - not who's on the bench.
Plans that stick
We work toward real consensus - the kind that survives a leadership transition and gets implemented long after we've left.
Partnership through difficulty
We've been there during the hard moments. That's not incidental to who we are - it's the whole point.
Diversity, equity & inclusion
Every voice heard. Every experience valued.
For CBT, diversity, equity, and inclusion aren't a workstream - they're embedded in every engagement we take on.
We believe DEI is a fundamental pillar of educational excellence, and that it spans the full tapestry of the institutions we serve: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, ability, life experience, and learning style. We work to ensure those principles are practiced in every aspect of a project - not focused too narrowly on any one component.
Collaborative Brain Trust
Our Diversity Statement & MBE Certification
Our commitment
For CBT, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) is embedded in all of our work, and one must remember all that DEI encompasses - embracing a broad spectrum of individuals from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with unique life experiences, self-identifying in a multitude of ways, and with multiple talents, abilities, disabilities, and learning styles. One must consider all elements of this tapestry of stakeholders, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, self-identities, abilities/disabilities, etc. - so as not to focus too narrowly on any one component of DEI. CBT has a proven record demonstrating both a commitment to DEI, and also expertise in ensuring these principles are practiced in all aspects of the project.
CBT statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion
The Collaborative Brain Trust believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental pillars of educational excellence and it is inherent in the traditions we carry in this industry. We are passionate educators and administrators who firmly believe that our environment should allow every voice to be heard, every experience to be valued, and every individual to be respected. Inherent in our mission is to facilitate educational institutions and professionals to embrace the richness of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, fostering a culture of equity and inclusion in every classroom, boardroom, and community we serve.
We recognize that diversity encompasses a wide range of human differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, ability, and more. We are dedicated to promoting equity by ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. We strive to create spaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued, where diverse perspectives are not only included but celebrated. We believe that when diversity and equity are woven into the fabric of educational practices, all students, educators, and communities thrive.
MBE certification
CBT is nationally certified by the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. Our certificate number is WR971091 and expires 07/31/2027. We are more than happy to provide our certificate upon request.
"Seventeen years later, we're still here. And so are the institutions we serve."- Collaborative Brain Trust, est. 2008
Our network
Subject matter experts, not generalists.
Former presidents, provosts, CFOs, deans, and trustees - handpicked for each engagement. Over 60 practitioners nationwide.
Each frame represents a consultant in the CBT network.
Meet the full network →
Ready to start?
Let's talk about your institution.
Most engagements begin with a single conversation. Tell us what you're facing - we'll tell you how we can help.