Collin Rustin

Collin serves AvoLead clients as an executive coach and mediator. His inspiring blend of mediation and coaching expertise makes him an ideal resource for clients seeking to manage conflict and reduce tensions that can occur among teams with members from different ethnic groups or disparate business units. Encouraging a coaching style of management, Collin believes that all leaders and managers must learn to better assess situations, offer meaningful challenges to their teams and provide support to employees in the effort to develop their skills.

Drawing on more than 25 years experience in leadership and human resources management, Collin coaches from a belief that successful leaders are driven to increase effective behaviors. Clients appreciate his coaching process, which does not require in-depth analysis of the past, but focuses instead on making connections that will help them exhibit appropriate behaviors that will benefit and inspire others.

In addition to his work as Senior Consultant at AvoLead, Collin is President for Rustin & Associates Management Consultants, a private company that works with businesses, community organizations and governmental agencies to improve productivity and manage conflict. He is also an adjunct faculty member of the Center for Creative Leadership, where he provides executive coaching and training to a wide variety of national and international profit and nonprofit organizations.

Prior to starting his own business, Collin was Director of Human Resource Counseling Services at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC. During his time there, he was responsible for managing The University’s Grievance Process. He and his team were charged with mediating any and all conflicts between managers, staff and employees. His expertise in the mediation process has earned Collin the opportunity to be a regional director of the National Coalition Building Institute, an international, non-profit organization dedicated to developing leaders who value diversity, take principled stands, and excel at initiating inter-group cooperation. In this role, Collin has led diversity workshops in many communities throughout the USA.

Collin received his BA in Psychology and Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina.

He and his wife Carol, a licensed psychologist, make their home in Durham, NC, along with their dog Kona, and cat Sadie. As a cancer survivor, Collin is committed to having a balanced work and non-work life. When he’s not on the road for work, he enjoys golf, yard work and listening to a variety of music. When he gets to go on the road for recreation, he enjoys the opportunity to relax while discovering new information, personalities and concepts along the journey.

What clients have said to Collin about their experience with him:

“Collin made me feel at ease and I had no reservations about expressing my feelings. Collin listened to my ideas and then gave me some pointers to help me see other ways of approaching my peers, direct reports and my boss. This session was huge for me. His insights and suggestions were so helpful in getting me to consider a different approach than I am used to taking. He encouraged me to listen more and ask more questions.” —Michele Gough, Manager, Office Systems, Amerisource Bergen

“After a day with Collin Rustin a frequent comment I hear is, ‘I know the stranger I just met this morning better than the person I have been sitting next to for ten years.’ Collin creates the most trusting environment so that individuals are inspired to open their hearts, expose their fears, and by the end of the day, celebrate their similarities. He has the gift for building authentic relationships in one day.  He is the best.” – Winkie La Force
Executive Director, Leadership Triangle

“Collin provided a thorough explanation of the data and shared thoughtful advice. It was clear that he studied my information. He identified areas I thought were a problem but might not be. Collin understood what I do and bought clarity to the materials. I now have a mission.” —Bill Henry, Resource Manager, US Army Forces Command

“In Leadership Winston-Salem’s nine-month program, Human Relations Day is one
of our most important, and perhaps most challenging, program days. Yet Collin Rustin has a way of quickly getting 50 people into a space of trust, openness, and crucial dialog that surpasses anything else I’ve seen. From that space, leaders are able to naturally take a significant step in deeper understanding of each other while becoming aware of their own assumptions and biases. Collin’s facilitation style continually fosters mutual respect while also nudging people to be authentic.” —Jo Ellen Carson, Executive Director, Leadership Winston-Salem