Meet Cait Russell

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cait Russell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cait below.

Hi Cait, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

When we look at autism, neurodiversity, and disability, there can be a lot of jarring statistics – from high unemployment to lack of access to services and education. We’re certainly not at a point of equity for the disabled and neurodivergent community. However, in the positions I have held, I have been so fortunate to work with so many incredible people trying to solve these problems – whether it’s through founding a business, running a nonprofit, dedicating their time and talent to the cause, or advocating for better ways. I’m optimistic because I’ve seen and met the passionate people in this community and surrounding this community, and I know we will not stop until we’ve reached true equity.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the Chief Operating Officer at Multiple, an autism innovation hub that helps early-stage entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into scalable solutions. Through our accelerator, we support startups building technologies that address real challenges faced by the autism community in areas like education, healthcare, workforce inclusion, and daily living.

One of our recent highlights was the Autism x Workforce cohort, where we worked with founders tackling barriers to employment for autistic individuals. It’s been incredible to see these 8 ventures create real pathways to opportunity and impact. This fall, we’ll launch our next accelerator cohort, continuing to grow this ecosystem of mission-driven innovators.

Beyond the accelerator, we host bi-monthly community events that spotlight emerging startups, share diverse perspectives from across the ecosystem, and foster meaningful connections. These gatherings are a key way we ensure autism innovation remains collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in community needs.

We also maintain a growing database of autism-related resources, technologies, and organizations, making it easier for stakeholders to find what they need in the future. In the coming year, we’ll be releasing data reports on early-stage autism startups across different verticals, helping to map the landscape and spotlight emerging solutions.

At its core, Multiple exists to amplify the autism community’s voice through innovation. Whether you’re a founder, a parent, a funder, or an ally, we believe meaningful change happens when we build together.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are:

1. Being people-centered and leading with empathy
At the heart of any meaningful work, especially in the autism and disability space, is a deep focus on people. Truly listening, understanding lived experiences, and approaching challenges with empathy has shaped how I build programs, support founders, and lead teams. People are the core of work and impact, so ensuring that your efforts reflect that is crucial.

2. Openness to collaboration and learning
No one does this work alone. The willingness to collaborate, share credit, and continuously learn from others has been key. Some of the best ideas come from unexpected partnerships or from being open to perspectives outside your immediate field. Building an ecosystem mindset, where success is shared, has been invaluable.

3. Passion for the mission, and a willingness to take risks
Impact work rarely follows a straight line. Being deeply connected to the “why” behind what we do keeps you grounded when things are uncertain. At the same time, being willing to take smart risks, try unconventional approaches, and step into uncharted territory has opened doors I never could have planned for.

For those early in their journey, my advice is this: Start by knowing yourself: your strengths, values, and limits. Don’t try to do everything. Focus on where you can have the most impact and be okay with saying no. Find people who support you and cheer for you: mentors, peers, and collaborators who will help you grow and remind you why you started. Leading with empathy, staying curious, and surrounding yourself with a strong support system will carry you far. Most importantly, lead with people first, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. It’s okay to make decisions that prioritize your well-being and help you become a better leader, teammate, and human.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Multiple, and we’re always looking to connect with people who care about making a real difference.

We’d love to partner with:

Funders and investors who believe in the power of innovation to create more inclusive, supportive solutions for the autism community. Whether you’re from a foundation, a corporate impact team, or an investment fund, or just someone who wants to support bold ideas, we would love to meet you.

Organizations doing meaningful work in autism, disability, or innovation spaces. We understand that impact requires collaboration, so we’re always looking for ways to team up, share resources, and grow the ecosystem together.

Individuals and organizations can engage with us as mentors, advisors, potential pilot partners, thought leaders, researchers, and more! We are happy to connect with anyone who wants to support early-stage autism startups and help bring their ideas to scale.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like my kind of work,” please reach out! You can connect with us through multiplehub.org or find me on LinkedIn.

At the end of the day, we believe innovation happens with community, and we’d love to have you as part of ours.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.multiplehub.org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/multiplehub
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@catalystprograms5601