Bushwhacking Your Way To Change: A Conversation With Lucas Rockett Gutterman

In a recent post, author Rutger Bregman challenged readers to “take a look at what the so-called ‘best & brightest’ do for a living. As Ivy League students, they still dreamt of fighting poverty and pollution, corruption and the climate crisis. But then McKinsey came along. More than 40% (!) of Harvard graduates end up in consultancy or finance.” It’s time, Bregman argues, to “go and do something.” 

‘Going and doing something’ is where Lucas Rockett Gutterman lives. In a thought-provoking episode of What If Instead?, he sheds light on a striking paradox: we don’t build the power to make change when things go according to plan. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

In entertaining and unsparing terms, Gutterman describes how his own setbacks became fuel for a career combating product obsolescence and e-waste. As director of Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)'s Designed to Last campaign, he takes the throwaway economy head on. As lays out the phases of his journey from a high schooler with big dreams to a college student facing unexpected challenges, to an environmental and social justice advocate, Gutterman powerfully illustrates how apparent setbacks often have secret doors behind them, if we’re willing to look.

Shaping Identity Through Unanticipated Pathways

Gutterman describes his early aspirations, which centered around entering Silicon Valley as a programmer, and the disappointment he felt when his plans didn’t unfold as envisioned. At UMass Amherst, he stumbled onto a different avenue: the chance to register voters and work alongside peers to create meaningful change. This endeavor changed his perspective on learning, into one where taking action and engaging with others transforms.

Learning by Doing

Rather than rely on assumptions or preconceived notions, he immersed himself in hands-on activism. Through organizing campaigns, speaking with strangers, and even managing meetings, he developed skills that extended beyond academic knowledge alone. This practical exposure, he explains, reshaped his understanding. It showed him that the most important step in making change is to start. The challenges that arise become the best teacher, as one figures out how to surmount them. 

The Dominant Myth: Elite Institutions vs. Open Participation

In discussing educational paradigms, Gutterman critiques the dominant myths surrounding prestigious institutions. While he acknowledges the advantages elite institutions can bring, he also highlights the constraints that can come with them, when students lack autonomy to initiate change. At UMass, Gutterman found this autonomy, in an environment that empowered students to organize, decide, and lead. His most powerful lessons came from open-source, collaborative environments rather than rigid, structured ones.

Campaigns That Build Leaders, Not Followers

Gutterman touches on his current work, including the Design to Last campaign, which challenges firms producing disposable technology – like donated school Chromebooks that become obsolete, because they can’t be updated. He advocates passionately for products built to last, and aims to end the cycle of unnecessary replacements that harm the environment and burden consumers. Gutterman demonstrates the tangible outcomes that can be achieved, even when taking on giant firms and entrenched interests.

The Broader Picture: Inclusivity in Impactful Learning

In the episode, Gutterman reaches beyond his own journey, focusing on his work to enable others to discover their powers. He discusses the need for structures that support all participants, beyond just the highly motivated or most entrepreneurial individuals. He advocates for collaborative, accessible frameworks that allow everyone, from those dedicating an hour, to those most deeply committed, to take a role. His vision reaffirms the idea that impactful learning and progress come from inclusive, sustainable practices.

"I learned by doing something rather than by reading articles online, thinking I knew so much more than other people." – Lucas Rockett Gutterman

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