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.
"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.