Marian Goodell

Marian Goodell is the first CEO of Burning Man Project, the nonprofit behind the world-renowned Burning Man event. Thanks in part to Marian’s guidance and dedication, Burning Man has grown from the scrappy, anarchist gathering of a few thousand people she first attended in 1995 into a global cultural movement that sparks innovation in design, business, technology, education, and urban planning. A keen connector and storyteller, Marian brings together people, ideas, and resources in unexpected ways that move organizations and communities forward. Marian’s stewardship of Burning Man’s anti-consumerist, participatory and celebratory culture has set in on seemingly unstoppable growth path. Burning Man communities and leaders are active in 37 countries and produce more than 100 events annually. Today Black Rock City, Burning Man’s largest and most famous event, is home to 80,000 thinkers, makers, and creative problem-solvers who come together each year to build the world’s most imaginative city. A graduate in creative writing from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, Marian holds an MFA in photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and serves on the boards and as an advisor for several organizations including Black Rock Labs, and Make:Art:Work.