purpose

January 2, 2026 by Simon Mainwaring

Artificial intelligence is having a moment — a loud, unruly, impossible-to-ignore moment. It’s the thunderclap in every boardroom, the whispered worry in every classroom, and the headline nobody can escape. And with every new advancement, the chorus of questions gets louder: Where’s this going? Who’s in charge? Are we even ready? But walk into a […]

November 25, 2025 by Simon Mainwaring

Rick Ridgeway has always been drawn to the edges of what’s possible. As one of the original architects behind the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, now known as Cascale, and a longtime leader at Patagonia, he’s spent the last 15 years proving that the biggest lever for sustainability isn’t competition, but collaboration. Now, that model is evolving again. At …

October 7, 2025 by Simon Mainwaring

The apparel industry has trained consumers to constantly expect more—more drops, more trends, more discounts—while the costs of that model are passed onto people and the planet. Against that noise, DUER, a Canadian performance apparel brand founded in Vancouver by denim veteran Gary Lenett, is building a different kind of signal: clothing that looks good, …

August 25, 2021 by Simon Mainwaring

At 11:49 p.m. on an otherwise ordinary January 26th, a bearded man was burning the midnight oil in a food lab. He had worked at 16 Michelin star restaurants, was named a Zagat 30 Under 30, and was twice nominated for the James Beard Rising Star Chef award. Tonight, though, he was a scientist. He …

July 29, 2021 by Simon Mainwaring

Davis Smith, the serial entrepreneur who cofounded the outdoor gear and apparel brand Cotopaxi with Wharton Business School buddy Stephan Jacob, and outdoor industry veteran CJ Whittaker seven years ago, had an idea that one could use a powerful company purpose to attract talent and continuously better the brand community. “Having a strong and authentic …

June 18, 2021 by Simon Mainwaring

The manufacturing and building sectors have long been major contributors to the environmental emergency. Of late, though, some vanguards in manufacturing and building are also leading the charge toward impactful social- and environmental purpose by, for example, finding innovative ways to produce carbon net-positive products. Interface, a global manufacturer of commercial and residential flooring, and …