Blake Mycoskie

If the lifeblood of an entrepreneur is the idea, the oxygen that can sustain them is the belief that their ideas can change the world for the better. As we navigate life searching for purpose and meaning, and chasing conventional notions of success in the process, ideas come and go from our consciousness, but some stick, and if we are lucky enough, or perhaps brave enough, we act on those ideas and they become something transformative. The power of ideas is what drove Blake Mycoskie to start TOMS (and give over ninety million pairs of shoes to kids in the process), to write Start Something that Matters, to take on various social causes through philanthropy, and most recently to start his latest company, Madefor.

You may think you know Blake Mycoskie — serial entrepreneur, participant on the Amazing Race, Founder of TOMS, author of Start Something that Matters, father, philanthropist, and adventurer — but those are only parts of his story.  Despite checking all the boxes we’re all taught to try to check, he’s continued a lifelong journey of exploration and personal transformation, and in doing so realized there’s way more to life than that. Through his talk, The Power of Ideas, Blake will share his quest to go within and beyond and relate it to what it may mean for you as you search for meaning, connection, contribution, and happiness in your own life.

What are you made for? You were made for more.

• Greatness
• Impact
• Insight
• Wisdom
• Generosity
• Love
• Health
• Vitality
• Fulfillment
• Service
• Friendship
• Meaning

In this visionary talk, Blake Mycoskie shows you how to succeed in a new era of relentless competition and heightened social awareness.

• Why is philanthropy your best competitive advantage?
• How do you make money and do good simultaneously?
• How are the two acts intertwined?

At TOMS — a self-sustaining, for-profit company — the act of giving is the cornerstone of its business model, integral to its financial success. In a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works, Mycoskie shares counter-intuitive ideas (“In tough times, give more”) that you can apply to your own business. His bold, winning strategies are proven and have been talked about by Bill Clinton, the Obama administration, and the hundreds of thousands of customers who have joined the TOMS Movement by buying a pair of shoes.

Inspired, inspiring, and most of all practical, Mycoskie presents a new direction for business; offering TOMS as his prime case study. After hearing him speak, you will know why giving just makes sense.

We welcome your ideas and suggestions for what you’d like to ask Blake about during this Fireside Chat – and here are a few topics to get you brainstorming:

• The importance of mental and physical well-being….and the power of incremental steps in building sustainable habits that transform your life.
• Self-awareness and reflection as a means of personal and professional growth
• Entrepreneurship – and the entrepreneurial mindset…..spotting opportunities and making the most of them
• Building your team – selecting the right people for the job
• Work and life – striking a balanced blend
• Conscious capitalism
• Creating a powerful brand
• Storytelling as a way to cultivate customer engagement and loyalty

*This is a virtual option