about us

CommonWise, founded by Cheryl Heller, is a collaborative of pioneering experts who help organizations in every industry and every sector grow, fulfill their missions, garner the support they need to succeed, and measure the results of their efforts.

We have experience in corporate strategy, innovation, education, experience and communication design, culture change, social justice, philanthropic effectiveness, art and communications.

We design curricula for leading businesses, academic institutions, nonprofits, and foundations, have mentored thousands of learners and entrepreneurs, and founded organizations dedicated to education, social and environmental regeneration, measurement, public health and civic engagement.

our name

The archaic form of commonwealth is commonweal, meaning “common or public good, general welfare, where power is vested in the people. The “commons,” are those natural resources we share and upon which all life is dependent.

Wisdom is experience, knowledge, good judgment. For us it is alertness, paying attention to changes in the world and learning from them. It requires us to get out of our heads and away from our screens; to live in our bodies, using all our senses to navigate the complexities around us, with the courage to imagine and create a resilient future.

the team

  • Cheryl Heller has helped grow businesses from small regional enterprises to multi-billion global market leaders, launched category-redefining divisions and products, reinvigorated moribund cultures, and designed strategies for hundreds of successful entrepreneurs.

    She has taught creativity to leaders and organizations around the world, and has extensive experience facilitating collaborative efforts toward culture change, social and health equity. She pioneered the field of social design and created the first STEM MFA program to teach it.

    • AIGA Lifetime Achievement Medal for contributions to the design field

    • Rockefeller Bellagio Fellowship

    • author, The Intergalactic Design Guide. Harnessing the Creative Potential of Social Design

    • founded the first design division in a major advertising agency

    education & program development

    • created the Ideas That Matter program for Sappi

    • founded the first social design STEM Master’s program at SVA, NYC, now in its 11th year

    • first director of design integration at Arizona State University, integrating the schools of engineering, business and design

    • created the first transdisciplinary STEM innovation and venture development Master’s program

    • faculty at Babson College

    • faculty and advisor to CENTRO in Mexico City

    • created the MeasureD Lab to investigate design’s role in human health

    • co-created the influential exhibit “Design for the Other 90%” with Paul Polak and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum

    • advised the Lumina Foundation on their impact investing capability

Gary Scheft
Managing Partner

  • Gary is a founding partner of CommonWise and the MeasureD Lab, bringing a multifaceted career in finance and real estate to his work at the intersection of strategy and social impact. With experience spanning Wall Street, digital finance, and property development, Gary contributes a grounded, analytical lens to mission-driven innovation.

    • built a long-standing career in finance, both on Wall Street and in the online finance sector

    • led real estate ventures in Martha’s Vineyard and Boston, contributing to regional development initiatives

    • co-founded MeasureD Lab, advancing research on how design influences human health

    • active in his local community as a volunteer chess teacher for youth in Norfolk, Connecticut

    • pursues a personal passion for photography, using visual storytelling to explore place and perspective

  • Mara Abrams is the Founder and CEO of Numara Impact, a social impact studio that blends creativity and innovation to address today’s most urgent challenges. Her work centers on civic engagement, democracy, and participatory media, empowering those most affected by systemic issues to lead in shaping solutions.

    • co-founded a youth media organization at age 24, teaching documentary filmmaking and citizen journalism in conflict-affected communities

    • advised Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation on impact strategy

    • established the first innovation lab at the U.S. Census Bureau ahead of the 2020 census

    • Led global partnerships for the Nike Foundation and its Girl Effect initiative

    • Created an entrepreneurship program in Cuba to foster local innovation

    • Directed responsible tech partnerships at Unfinished, advancing equity in the digital space

    • Champions inclusive decision-making through participatory research and storytelling

  • Cheryl is the founding Executive Director of the Institute for Social Innovation at Babson College, which amplifies college’s mission to educate entrepreneurial leader to create social and economic value simultaneously.

    The Institute inspires people to create positive social impact in any role, any sector, and any community.

    It educates purpose driven students to see the UN Global Goals as an opportunity (and a $12 trillion market opportunity, at that) for addressing the biggest challenges of our time, such as poverty, climate action, and inequality.

    • co-founded Food Sol, to bring together eaters and food entrepreneurs for regenerative conversations and actionable connections.

      • developed an MBA elective, Creating Social Value

      • developed a BabsonX course, From Corporate Social Responsibility to Social Innovation

      • co-created an executive certificate program, Entrepreneurial Leadership in the Social Sector

      • authored Creating Social Value: A Guide for Leaders and Changemakers

    • sought by countless corporate executive and luminaries seeking ways to cultivate different ways of thinking and acting. 

      • directly influenced the strategy, operations, and mindsets of dozens of Fortune 500 companies, global NGOs, community organizations, and academic institutions. 

      • 13 years as the Managing Director of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, a global membership organization of Fortune 1000 companies responding to the changing role of business and society

      • graduate work in community organizing and social policy.  

      • on the team that helped launch Employee Assistance Programs

  • Despina is a strategist, designer, and philosopher bridging critical theory and technological innovation.

    She holds Masters degrees in Philosophy (KU Leuven) and Interactive Telecommunications (NYU), and recently completed a practice-based PhD at the Royal College of Art, London, focusing on the relationship between philosophy, AI and materiality.

    Her work consistently translates complex, forward-looking concepts into actionable strategies for organizations navigating technological and cultural change.

    • pioneering work in wearable technologies and embodied interaction has international reach 

      • former fellow at Paul Allen's legendary Interval Research Lab

      • holds multiple patents in wearable and tangible interface design

    • co-developed early IoT prototypes at NCR's Knowledge Lab 

      • led Experience Design at IBM's Innovation Center in New York.

      • guided strategic innovation for Ralph Lauren, DuPont, UNESCO, Christie's, and Beiersdorf/Nivea.

      • taught at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program for nearly two decades

      • founding faculty at SVA's Design for Social Innovation MFA.

  • Noah Ullman is a strategist, innovator, and humanist exploring the transformative power of love in corporate culture.

    With over 25 years of global experience, he blends insights from Greek philosophy, modern psychology, and business strategy to foster leadership rooted in connection, resilience, and purpose-driven growth.

    • held key leadership roles over an 11-year career at Microsoft, advancing product development and international market expansion

    • served as Chief Marketing Officer at Keep America Beautiful, leading national campaigns that reached hundreds of millions

    • awarded multiple U.S. patents and selected as a 2023 Effie Awards judge for excellence in marketing innovation

    • created the “Love in Business” series, applying ancient concepts like Eros, Philia, and Agape to reshape modern leadership

    • guided organizations through rapid technological and societal shifts as a futurist and innovation advisor

    • helped redefine the U.S. wine industry by becoming the leading global exporter of Czech wines, earning features in The Wall Street Journal and top wine publications

    • met with heads of state and spoke at embassies and consulates to advance international trade and community engagement initiatives

things to think about.

let’s talk about your future.