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Helen Russell

Co-founder & Executive Chair of Equator Coffees, LLC. Certified B Corp

Helen Russell is the Co-founder and Executive Chair of Equator Coffees, a renowned specialty coffee roaster in Marin County, California, with a 26-year history of excellence in the industry.

Under Helen's guidance, Equator Coffees has evolved from a small local roaster to a nationally recognized brand celebrated for its values-driven ethos, exceptional coffee blends, and commitment to environmental sustainability, female empowerment, and economic progress.

Helen spearheaded Equator's certification as California's first B Corporation coffee roaster, a testament to the company's enduring dedication to Fair Trade practices and its trailblazing efforts in fostering direct relationships with coffee producers.

Recognized for her achievements, Helen Russell has led Equator Coffees to be a consistent presence on The San Francisco Business Times' Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses list and secured accolades like the SBA Small Business of the Year for the State of California in 2016 as the first LGBT Certified business to achieve this honor.

Through Helen's visionary leadership, Equator has cultivated partnerships with renowned culinary figures such as Dominique Crenn, Thomas Keller, Traci Des Jardins, Suzanne Goin, and Tyler Florence, showcasing a commitment to quality and innovative coffee experiences.

Beyond her role at Equator Coffees, Helen Russell actively contributes her time and expertise to various local and global organizations focused on empowering women and promoting environmental causes, including La Cocina Community Kitchen, the International Women in Coffee Alliance, World Bicycle Relief, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Helen Russell pursued her Bachelor of Science in Business at Northeastern University, laying a strong foundation for her entrepreneurial journey and leadership in the coffee industry.

Highlights

Jun 10 · linkedin

As a proud queer founder of Equator Coffees, I’m thrilled to celebrate Pride Month and honor our LGBTQI+ roots. This is a time to reflect on our journey, celebrate our community, and reaffirm our commitment to positive change and inclusivity. 🏳️‍🌈

Being an LGBTQI+ entrepreneur, I understand the power of standing in our truth and using our influence to make a difference. Our mission goes beyond serving exceptional coffee; it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, supported, and empowered.

In honor of Pride Month, 5% of sales from our Pride Tiger t-shirts and $1 from every pour-over coffee sold in cafes will be donated to Rainbow Railroad, an international nonprofit that helps LGBTQI+ individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries and domestically. Now more than ever we have to stand together and support our community.

Pride is also a time for celebration! This month we’re excited to host Tour d’Equator: Pride Ride 2024, an Instagram live with the founder of Boichik Bagels, Emily Winston, and to help kick off the San Francisco Pride celebrations by serving coffee at their Pride For Breakfast event.

At Equator, our commitment to the queer community is woven into the fabric of who we are–not just during Pride Month, but every day of the year. We continually work to ensure that our cafes serve as safe spaces for everybody. We make an intentional effort to work with and uplift other LGBTQI+ founded companies. We work with queer artists on artwork for our campaigns and we select LGBTQI+ organizations for our giveback programs, such as the LYRIC Center for LGBTQI+ Youth.

Join me in honoring Pride this month and every month as we continue to support, empower, and celebrate the LGBTQI+ community. Together, we can create positive change and build a more inclusive world.  🌈🌈🌈

Mar 16 · linkedin

I had the incredible privilege of meeting Hamdi Ulukaya the visionary and founder behind Chobani. #enterpreneur

Helen Russell
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Location

San Rafael, California, United States