Gwendolyn Bounds, Consumer Reports

Geoff is among the rarest of leaders – one who understands that to truly excel in an organization you must build successful lateral relationships with peers, not just with those in positions above or below. I was fortunate to count Geoff as my peer and partner at Consumer Reports where he worked on the fundraising and social impact team while I managed our content and editorial teams. Beyond the impressive skills listed on his resume, he is one of the best strategists and masters of narrative I’ve ever encountered. He understands how to get wide buy-in for deeply complicated projects and he sees opportunities where others see walls, which he then turns into a competitive advantage. When I wanted to attempt something ambitious, Geoff always was my go-to counselor, and I count him among the people who’ve taught me the most in my career. He will quickly become a secret weapon for any organization, industry or group that is fortunate enough to count him among its ranks.