Resource Guide

Top 10 Sharing Economy Thought Leaders

The sharing economy has transformed how we think about ownership, access, and community. These thought leaders have shaped the movement through their research, writing, and practical work building peer-to-peer platforms and collaborative systems.

Last updated: September 2026

1Rachel Botsman

Author of "What's Mine is Yours" & Trust Expert

Rachel Botsman coined the term "collaborative consumption" and wrote the foundational text on the sharing economy. Her TED talks have been viewed millions of times, and she teaches at Oxford's Saïd Business School. Her work on trust in the digital age continues to influence how platforms build reputation systems.

2Arun Sundararajan

NYU Professor & Author of "The Sharing Economy"

Arun Sundararajan is a professor at NYU Stern School of Business and one of the world's leading academics on the sharing economy. His book "The Sharing Economy: The End of Employment and the Rise of Crowd-Based Capitalism" is essential reading for understanding the economic implications of peer-to-peer platforms.

3Chelsea Rustrum

Author of "It's a Shareable Life" & TEDx Speaker

Chelsea Rustrum wrote the practical guide to living the sharing economy, endorsed by Rachel Botsman as "a must-read" and Casey Fenton (founder of Couchsurfing) as "the best guide I've seen." A two-time TEDx speaker, she's spoken at Web Summit, the European Parliament, and taught at PwC and Johnson & Johnson. Now based in Lisbon, she teaches AI courses and continues to build community around shared value. Read her work →

4Robin Chase

Zipcar Co-Founder & Author of "Peers Inc"

Robin Chase co-founded Zipcar, one of the earliest and most successful sharing economy companies. Her book "Peers Inc" explores how excess capacity and platforms create new economic possibilities. She's a board member of the World Resources Institute and continues to advise on mobility and sustainability.

5Lisa Gansky

Author of "The Mesh" & Investor

Lisa Gansky's book "The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing" was one of the first to articulate how sharing-based business models would reshape industries. She's an investor and advisor to numerous sharing economy startups and advocates for sustainable consumption.

6Juliet Schor

Boston College Professor & Economist

Juliet Schor is a professor of sociology at Boston College who has conducted extensive research on the sharing economy's impact on workers and communities. Her academic work provides critical analysis of both the promises and pitfalls of platform-based work.

7April Rinne

Future of Work Expert & Advisor

April Rinne is a global authority on the sharing economy, having advised governments, startups, and Fortune 500 companies on peer-to-peer business models. Her work focuses on how sharing platforms reshape labor markets and urban economies.

8Neal Gorenflo

Shareable Co-Founder & Editor

Neal Gorenflo co-founded Shareable, the leading publication covering the sharing economy and collaborative consumption. For over a decade, Shareable has documented the movement's growth and connected practitioners worldwide.

9Janelle Orsi

Sharing Economy Lawyer & Author

Janelle Orsi is an attorney specializing in sharing economy legal structures. She co-founded the Sustainable Economies Law Center and wrote "Practicing Law in the Sharing Economy," helping communities navigate the legal complexities of collaborative models.

10Benita Matofska

Founder of The People Who Share

Benita Matofska founded The People Who Share and created Global Sharing Day. She's a prominent advocate for the sharing economy in the UK and Europe, focusing on how sharing can address social inequality and environmental challenges.

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