Russell Fugett

Russell (he/him) is a bridge builder who excels at building consensus and organizing teams that make an impact. By leading with a listen, Russell fosters an environment of inclusive collaboration and community that makes a difference in people’s lives.

Drawing on his experience as Chair of the Multicultural Affairs Council while a College student, Russell worked at The George Washington University Multicultural Student Services Center where he was Senior Program Coordinator. In that role he helped lead university wide cultural heritage celebrations for Hispanic, Black, and Asian American Pacific Islander communities. He also helped initiate celebrations for Native American heritage and a mixed race awareness as well as a mentoring and coaching program for Black Men.

After leaving GW, Russell became co-founder of Fugett Baseball Group: a private equity firm seeking to acquire assets in affiliated minor league baseball (MiLB). He founded a software (SaaS) start up and a certified Maryland Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) consulting firm. In 2019, Russell traveled to South Africa sponsored by the US Embassy as part of a delegation of entrepreneurs and university technology transfer specialists. Later that year, he joined the team at Cook Ross, a global training and consulting firm focused on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.). There, he served as a project manager and conducted a business assessment for the CEO.

Coming full circle as a 5th generation Black American entrepreneur, Russell is founder and chief encouragement officer at Jumla Network: a strategic consultancy and knowledge network focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Russell is also the Founding Executive Director of Jumla Network’s non-profit project, Equity Endowment, a 501c3 with a 2 prong strategy for closing the racial wealth gap. The endowment will be investing with diverse fund managers and funds with diverse strategies and granting the endowment proceeds to nonprofits working to close the wealth gap.

A winner of multiple awards for leadership and service, in 2023 Russell was appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to serve on the state's Economic Development Commission. He holds a B.A. from Trinity College, Hartford, CT, and a M.S. in Project Management from The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC. Russell also earned a Diversity and Inclusion Professional Certificate from the University of Georgia Terry School of Business and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He currently serves on the selection advisory council of Greenlight Baltimore and as Vice Chair of the Board of the Indian Creek School, a K-12 school in Crownsville, MD. Russell resides in Crofton, MD with his wife and 2 daughters.

Executive Director, Equity Endowment