Fernande Raine is the founder of The History Co:Lab, an innovation lab working to transform learning systems so that all young people can thrive, develop agency, and find purpose in their communities.
Inspired to study history by the fall of the Berlin Wall, Fernande began studying history, law and political science at the University of Freiburg and Free University of Berlin. She earned a PhD in History from Yale before embarking on a career path focused on social innovation, first at McKinsey & Company and then at Ashoka. For over a decade she was an entrepreneur at Ashoka, launching programs in Western Europe and globally. She took two breaks from Ashoka during her tenure, one to serve as Executive Director of the Harvard Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and one to apprentice with innovation expert Clay Christensen and his team at Innosight.
In 2019, Fernande founded The History Co:Lab to rethink civic learning for a new generation. Her work brings together educators, researchers, museums, community leaders, and young people to design learning ecosystems that foster belonging, civic participation, and real-world problem solving. She is mother of four daughters and lives in the Boston area with her husband and two golden retrievers.
In the spring semester of 2026, Fernande Raine holds a Research Fellowship at the Democracy Centre Vienna.
