Shaan “Green” Guru is an international award-winning economic development advocate, researcher, and 501(c)(3) founder focused on advancing sustainable solutions at the intersection of economics, policy, and global equity. Shaan is a proponent for social change through NGOs and service.
As the Founder of the Green Guru Project, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Shaan leads a growing international initiative spanning more than 5 countries and over 15 members focused on sustainable economic development. Through community-based programs, he has launched multiple impact projects, including a food waste reduction system that has redistributed more than 1,750 pounds of food to local communities and financial literacy initiatives that have empowered over 200 people in over 3 languages.
Alongside his nonprofit work, Shaan has conducted economic research on the impact of United States presidential elections on financial markets. His paper has been published in five academic journals and downloaded hundreds of times globally, ranking #16 in SSRN downloads. He has also presented macroeconomic and energy policy research to European Union and European Central Bank officials, modeling long-term fiscal and climate risk scenarios for Spain’s economic issues.
His professional experience includes work in sustainable finance as a Summer Analyst at Spinosa Wealth, where he evaluates ESG disclosures across S&P 500 companies and analyzes investment strategies aligned with long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
Shaan’s leadership and impact have been recognized internationally, including ranking in the top 1 percent of the Wharton Global Youth Investment Competition and selection as a delegate to the NAE Global Summit. He is also a Nord Anglia Global Student Leader and recipient of multiple national academic honors. Shaan has also presented his work with the Green Guru Project through TEDx Youth, and is an employee at Cufflinks Depot.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Panera Day End Dough Nation, Ecotone Renewables, and the Chicago Bears Outreach Program, he continues to scale initiatives that combine economic strategy with real-world impact. Shaan is also building an app with colleagues to expand the Panera program globally.