Marian Goodell
(Burning Man Project, US)
Marian Goodell is a pioneer in building participatory ecosystems and resilient global communities. As the CEO and a co-founder of Burning Man Project, she has steered the organization’s evolution from a singular desert event into a year-round nonprofit movement that champions collective imagination as a catalyst for social change.
At the heart of Goodell’s work is the belief that culture is a living system. By scaling the Burning Man Global Network to over 100,000 annual participants across 34 countries, she has demonstrated how decentralized, creative communities can spark innovation in urban planning, sustainability, and civic engagement. With a background spanning software project management and international nonprofit leadership, Marian specializes in the “connective frameworks” that turn passive audiences into active contributors. Her leadership serves as a global case study for how high-engagement culture can build social resilience and drive meaningful impact far beyond the festival gates.
Burning Man is a global arts and cultural movement. The awe and connection offered by Burning Man culture serve as catalysts to bring out the most playful, innovative, creative aspects of humanity.
Burning Man Project is the nonprofit in service to the global Burning Man cultural movement. Through Arts, Culture, Education, Civic Involvement, the Philosophical Center, and Social Enterprise, the nonprofit:
- Brings people together by supporting gatherings that spark belonging and moments of awe
- Stimulates innovation and creativity by supporting participatory art and hands-on innovation
- Advances the culture through storytelling by developing content that inspires and educates
Black Rock City is a temporary participatory city that convenes approximately 80,000 people in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The collaborative act of building an ephemeral city inspires people to cultivate more connection, creativity, and awe in their day-to-day lives and the world they live in.
Speaking in: Keynote Interview: Marian Goodell in conversation with Michal Kaščák | Saturday, 25 April | 14:00 – 15:00 | Club Cverna & Leading Culture in Times of Instability and Chaos – Keeping the Faith | Saturday, 25 April | 16:00 – 17:00 | Club Cverna