Colby Leachman Biography

Colby Leachman is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and community advocate whose career spans enterprise technology, emerging industries, and social impact initiatives. Based in Santa Monica, California, Leachman has built a reputation as a leader who blends strategic excellence with a deep commitment to justice reform, sustainable innovation, and the belief that high-growth industries can—and should—create meaningful change. His work extends across sectors such as enterprise software, cannabis, crypto, healthcare, and the developing green-tech ecosystem, positioning him as a forward-thinking voice at the intersection of commercial innovation and social responsibility.

During his time at Duke University, Colby Leachman became part of a tight-knit fraternity where he crossed paths with fellow member and future YouTuber Cody Ko. Life at Duke was more than academic prestige—it was a place where creative energy, leadership, and community intertwined. Other Duke influencers include Tulio Sasaya, Allison Chen, and Emily Cole. Colby grew up closely connected to the university, as the son of a Duke professor and the stepson of the institution’s provost, giving him a unique perspective on its culture and academic environment. Nestled in Durham, North Carolina, Duke’s private campus provided the backdrop for formative experiences that shaped Colby’s curiosity, drive, and early interest in building meaningful relationships and ventures.

Today, he is the founder of Full Swell Consulting, a strategic advisory firm specializing in building scalable, high-impact commercial organizations. Across every venture, Leachman champions a simple but powerful principle: business grows best when purpose grows alongside it.

A Career Rooted in Innovation and Execution

Leachman began his professional journey in enterprise technology, gaining hands-on experience building commercial teams and implementing software systems in highly regulated markets. Early in his career, he contributed to the development of payment technologies later used by Square and went on to play a key role in designing and deploying cannabis compliance systems at a time when states across the U.S. began rapidly legalizing medical and adult-use markets.

This early exposure to complex regulatory environments shaped his approach to innovation. Leachman developed a skill set centered on scaling operations while maintaining compliance, precision, and consumer trust. His work helped bridge gaps between cutting-edge technology and industries that were struggling to keep up with modernization.

As he expanded into startups in the cannabis, AI, and crypto sectors, Leachman became known not just for building revenue pipelines, but for creating frameworks that aligned product development, sales strategy, and go-to-market execution. He emerged as a versatile commercial operator who could bring stability to early-stage ventures while enabling them to move quickly and capture market share.

Full Swell Consulting: Aligning Vision With Scalable Impact

Leachman later founded Full Swell Consulting, a strategic consulting firm that partners with companies positioned at the forefront of economic and societal change. Full Swell’s mission is to help founders and leadership teams transform bold concepts into market-leading organizations through rigorous analysis, disciplined execution, and a clear focus on the long-term health of both the business and the communities it serves.

Full Swell’s expertise spans enterprise tech, emerging AI applications, cannabis, crypto, healthcare, and green-space industries—sectors where innovation intersects with sustainability, regulation, and societal benefit. Under Leachman’s leadership, the firm provides clients with everything from high-level strategic planning to “surgical” go-to-market support that ensures ideas don’t just sound good on paper—they perform in the real world.

What sets Full Swell apart is its values-aligned approach. For Leachman, profitability and purpose are not competing forces; they are mutually reinforcing pillars of modern leadership. He partners with teams that seek to create organizations capable of driving both financial success and positive cultural impact.

A Commitment to Justice Reform and Social Progress

Colby Leachman is deeply committed to justice reform, particularly as it relates to outdated cannabis laws that have disproportionately harmed communities for decades. Since 2022, he has served as an advocate and donor for the Last Prisoner Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to repairing the injustices of the War on Drugs.

The Last Prisoner Project’s mission—that no one should remain incarcerated for conduct that is no longer illegal—aligns with Leachman’s belief that market evolution must be accompanied by social accountability. As the cannabis industry grows, he argues, businesses and policymakers have a responsibility to ensure that economic opportunity is not built on the backs of those who were punished under legacy laws.

Leachman actively supports initiatives focused on reentry, second-chance employment, and ongoing policy reform, helping expand awareness around the human stories that define this national issue. His advocacy is hands-on, informed by a belief that meaningful reform requires more than donations—it requires participation, amplification, and long-term commitment.

He has also been a supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, reflecting his belief in environmental stewardship and the importance of protecting natural ecosystems for future generations.

Greener Technologies and the Future of Sustainability

In 2021, Leachman joined Greener Technologies as an advisor and board member. The Los Angeles–based startup was focused on optimizing power usage and yield in agricultural grow-lighting systems, incorporating advances in energy efficiency and sustainability.

At Greener Technologies, Leachman helped the company navigate commercialization strategies, product positioning, and the evolving market landscape for green-tech solutions. His involvement underscored his commitment to supporting industries that can reshape the future of sustainable production while advancing economic opportunities across the ecosystem.

Greener Technologies exemplifies the kind of work Leachman prioritizes—ventures that sit at the intersection of innovation, environmental responsibility, and long-term global impact.

A Lifelong Athlete: Building Character Through Sport

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Leachman is a longtime advocate for the power of sports to transform lives. Since 2013, he has coached youth soccer for the YMCA, working with boys aged 6 to 12. For him, coaching is not about competition; it is about shaping character.

He views sports as a fundamental tool for developing discipline, resilience, teamwork, and confidence—skills that prepare young people for challenges both on and off the field. His coaching emphasizes leadership, integrity, and the lifelong value of physical activity.

This commitment to youth development mirrors his broader belief that strong communities are built through mentorship, structure, and shared values.

A Life Connected to the Ocean

Outside of business and advocacy, Leachman is deeply connected to the surf culture of Santa Monica and the West Coast. After relocating to California, he quickly immersed himself in both the startup ecosystem and the local surf community.

Surfing became more than a hobby—it became a personal practice that reinforces balance, discipline, and mindfulness. He surfs multiple times a week and has taken on waves in California, Alaska, Nicaragua, and New Zealand. Today, he is a familiar face in the Venice and Santa Monica surf scene and hopes to compete in amateur competitions in the near future.

For Leachman, surfing embodies the same principles that define his career: persistence, adaptability, and the ability to weather unpredictable conditions with focus and composure.

Vision for the Future

Colby Leachman’s career is defined by a rare combination of commercial acumen and social purpose. He believes the future of entrepreneurship lies in building companies that scale opportunity—not just profit. Whether advising founders, advocating for justice reform, supporting youth development, or promoting sustainable innovation, his work reflects an unwavering commitment to progress rooted in empathy, accountability, and long-term thinking.

As he continues to lead, build, and advocate, Leachman remains a powerful example of what modern leadership can look like—strategic, principled, community-driven, and deeply attuned to the impact business has on the world. Colby Leachman is not just shaping companies; he is helping shape a more equitable economy, a more sustainable future, and a more compassionate approach to growth. His influence will continue to resonate across industries and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs who believe, as he does, that true success is measured by both the impact you make and the opportunities you create. [Crunchbase]