Susan Colby is a partner in Bridgespan's San Francisco office. She leads client and knowledge-related activities, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged populations. Susan has engaged with foundations on major strategy and organization issues and has also consulted to a variety of nonprofit organizations, from smaller, local community-based organizations to large national agencies. Through this work, she has developed strong expertise in K-12 education and foundation strategy.

She joined the Bridgespan Group from Pharmacia (previously Monsanto), where she served as co-president of the Sustainable Development Sector, an initiative that developed economically, environmentally and socially viable businesses, largely in the developing world. In particular, she worked to develop businesses and distribution channels to help small farmers in the developing world enhance their productivity, advance their personal and community well-being, and protect the environment. Prior to Monsanto, Susan spent 10 years at McKinsey & Company, where she co-founded and co-led the North American Environment Practice, serving clients in the areas of environmental management and strategy. At McKinsey, she also served foundations and environmental nonprofits on a pro bono basis and worked with clients in the financial, consumer goods and energy industries.

She is a co-author of several major articles—“Zeroing in on Impact,” which appeared in the Fall 2004 edition of the Stanford Social Innovation Review; “The Strategic Value of a Shared Understanding of Costs,” based on “Costs are Cool” (Strategy and Leadership 2005 special report on nonprofit leadership); “Going for the Gold” in Education Next; ”Expanding the Supply of High Quality Public Schools;” and “Reclaiming the American Dream” —and of several Bridgespan Group case studies. She has addressed Grantmakers for Education, the Stanford Nonprofit Institute, and other audiences on topics related to business planning and strategic clarity.

Susan has served as an advisor and board member for several nonprofits. She began her consulting career at Bain & Company, after receiving her BA from American University cum laude. She then went on to earn her MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.