Jeffrey Hollender

Sustainable Business Expert, Environmental Advocate, Activist and Former CEO of Seventh Generation

  • Jeffrey Hollender Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $10,001 - $20,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    Vermont, USA

  • Jeffrey Hollender Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $10,001 - $20,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Travels From

    Vermont, USA

Suggested Keynote Speaker Programs

What Matters Most: The Next Generation of Responsible, Values Based Business Leadership

Growing an Environmental Business from the Ground Up

The Future of Responsible Business

Jeffrey Hollender will share his experience of how launching four social enterprises over 40 years has shaped his perspective on what business’s role must be to address the social and environmental challenges now facing the world. He will also cover what changes and ...

Jeffrey Hollender will share his experience of how launching four social enterprises over 40 years has shaped his perspective on what business’s role must be to address the social and environmental challenges now facing the world. He will also cover what changes and strategies are required to make responsible business more effective, sustainable and responsible, where business is falling short and what it must do to successfully navigate a radically changing world. Lastly he will discuss the new concept of “net-positive,” the newest aspiration of the worlds leading responsible companies.

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The Business Case for Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore why the next generation of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility are increasingly the best business strategies for success. On a planet with limited resources, increasing competition for talent, rules and ...

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore why the next generation of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility are increasingly the best business strategies for success. On a planet with limited resources, increasing competition for talent, rules and regulations that increase the cost of doing business for organizations that cause adverse impacts to the environment and the increased transparency that results from social media – business must peruse news strategies.

Find out how the latest Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility strategies minimize waste, build consumer loyalty, attract the best talent, increase access to capital, drives innovation and collaboration and maximizes shareholder value.

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Doing good better: Creating a better future

Business generally denies the most significant challenges we face. Global climate change & social inequity will create (with increasing frequency) huge disruptions for business. We seem unable to respond effectively to these challenges despite overwhelming evidence of the ...

Business generally denies the most significant challenges we face. Global climate change & social inequity will create (with increasing frequency) huge disruptions for business. We seem unable to respond effectively to these challenges despite overwhelming evidence of the risks they pose.

Business must move beyond its incremental approach to addressing the world’s problems. Revolutionary changes are critical. Business must combine a moral imperative that values social wellbeing and the common good while it persues financial success.

We have confused “good” with less bad. Most “green” responsible products are at best “less bad.” Business must focus its innovation on “good” regenerative products and services.

We typically approach challenges in a compartmentalized rather than system manner. A compartmentalized approach by definition creates a host of unintended consequences and almost never addresses the root cause of a problem. In the future we must build systems thinking into every aspect of business, education and programs designed to support all social services.

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The Journey to Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore the personal journey that first led Jeffrey to commit his business careers to using business as a force of social and environmental good. Their story will highlight how the values that first emerged almost three decades ago...

This keynote speech by Jeffrey Hollender will explore the personal journey that first led Jeffrey to commit his business careers to using business as a force of social and environmental good. Their story will highlight how the values that first emerged almost three decades ago are evolving to address the challenges and opportunities we face today and in the coming decade.

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Nothing To Hide: The Power of Transparency in the Age of Social Media

Our society and the planet desperately need business to accelerate its transition toward a “responsibility revolution.” In this age of social media the revolution is both more possible and more essential than ever before for the success and survival of corporate America. ...

Our society and the planet desperately need business to accelerate its transition toward a “responsibility revolution.” In this age of social media the revolution is both more possible and more essential than ever before for the success and survival of corporate America. Every day, social media exposes the true nature of modern brands, and the more we see, the less we find to like. The age of messages neatly packaged by a marketing department is over. Today your brand lives in the hearts, minds and facebook messages of your customers.

This interactive dialogue will share stories and examples of best practices as well as cover:

• Creating Context: Is there really a responsibility revolution?

• Social Media Trends

• Trends in “being good” online

• What does this mean for your business or brand?

• What does it take to succeed in this new world?

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The Future of Business: Will it revive or destroy our economy?

Big business has evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force that writes it’s own rules and will do almost anything to ensure it’s survival. Can we recapture the potential of business to ...

Big business has evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force that writes it’s own rules and will do almost anything to ensure it’s survival. Can we recapture the potential of business to create a sustainable and equitable future.

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From Seventh Generation to Sustain: The Future of Responsible Business?

Big business has sadly evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth, innovation and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force. A force that leverages almost unlimited power to write it’s own rules and do almost anything to ensure it’s...

Big business has sadly evolved over the last 40 years from an engine of growth, innovation and prosperity to a wealth concentrating and environment destroying force. A force that leverages almost unlimited power to write it’s own rules and do almost anything to ensure it’s own short term financial success. We must recapture the potential of business to create a sustainable and equitable future?

Business bust learn to survive and thrive on a planet with limited resources, facing the certain impacts of climate change and increasing competition for talent. New rules and regulations will increase the cost of doing business for organizations that cause adverse impacts to the environment. These factors, together with the increased transparency that results from social media will cause business to peruse new system based, regenerative strategies.

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About Keynote Speaker Jeffrey Hollender

JEFFREY HOLLENDER is a leading authority on corporate responsibility, sustainability and social equity.  More than twenty-three years ago, he co-founded Seventh Generation and went on to build the fledgling company into a leading natural product brand known for its authenticity, transparency, and progressive business practices.  Today, as a CEO, author, speaker, consultant, and activist, Jeffrey’s mission is to inspire and provoke business leaders to think differently about the role they and their companies play in society.  Along the way, he’s working to drive systemic change that makes it easier for businesses to become radically more sustainable, transparent and responsible.

In 1988, Hollender co-founded and was for over two decades the CEO of Seventh Generation, the leading brand of sustainable, non-toxic household and personal care products. Currently Hollender is the Founder and Chief Inspired Protagonist of Hollender Sustainable Brands, makers of Sustain, non-toxic, fair trade, and sustainable personal care and sexual wellness products for women. Sustain products are sold in over 4,000 stores including Whole Foods, Target, CVS and Kroger. Hollender is also an Adjunct Professor for sustainability and social entrepreneurship at New York University.

Hollender’s passion for changing the negative impact that industry has on the environment and society is evident in each of his seven books, including 2010’s The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win.   Hollender has also helped millions of Americans make green and ethical product choices, beginning with his bestselling title, How to Make the World a Better Place, a Beginner’s Guide, in 1990.  His most recent book, Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning & Greening the World You Care About Most (Clarkson Potter/Publishers; December 28, 2010) guides consumers through the dizzying array of decisions they make each day, helping them understand which choices matter most and which have hidden repercussions.

A born entrepreneur, Jeffrey’s first business ventures were in the field of education and publishing: the Skills Exchange in Toronto and Network for Learning in New York City. He sold Network for Learning to Warner Publishing, a division of Warner Communications in 1985 and after tenure as president of the renamed firm, Warner Audio Publishing, he acquired Renew America, a mail order catalog of green products, which eventually became Seventh Generation. His record of sustainable achievements and thought leadership is unparalleled in the business world.

Hollender was the Co-Chair of the Greenpeace US Board of Directors until 2013 and now continues to serve on the Board of Directors. He is also the co-founder and Board Chair of the American Sustainable Business Council, a coalition of over 200,000 business leaders committed to progressive public policy, and serves on the Board of Verité, a leading workers’ rights organization. He divides his time between Charlotte, VT, and New York City.

Testimonials

Jeffrey is one of the most passionate, incisive, provocative, and thought-provoking business leaders I’ve come across in my years as a business journalist. When he speaks to a crowd—particularly about sustainability and capitalism–you can feel the room being refreshed by someone willing to be so candid and politically incorrect in the most productive way possible.”

Danielle Sacks

Senior Writer, Fast Company, Fast Forward Conference

Students in my MBA classes at Columbia Business School and at Oxford University’s Said School of Business found Jeffrey to be one of the most compelling speakers among the host of “star entrepreneurs” we had during the courses. In particular, they appreciated his willingness to talk honestly about the challenges – and the rewards – of starting and growing a business. They also fully welcomed that Jeffrey engaged with them as future business leaders who will be grappling with some of the practices and systems in the financial world that compromise companies’ ability to incorporate fully environmental and social obligations that any company must fulfill in today’s world.

Dr. Pamela Hartigan

Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School, The University of Oxford

Jeffrey Hollender has been one of the true visionaries in American business overt the past quarter century. More importantly he has walked the talk and built a business that has had wide-spread influence throughout the consumer goods industry. Jeffrey is extremely engaging and sincere as a speaker, and most importantly has a message that truly matters.”

Peter Senge

Director for the Center for Organizational Learning, MIT Sloan School

Jeffrey definitely stands out as one of the memorable speakers who I have seen over the last few years. He is both effective at get his point across and thoroughly entertaining. He has the ability to make complex ideas simple and accessible by using everyday examples which you can connect with both intellectually and emotionally. Jeffrey’s energetic personality along with his honest, approachable and humorous style warms up the audience and maintains their interest and attention throughout his talks. His ability to engage people’s thoughts while entertaining them is the reason that he is a meaningfully memorable speaker. However, as important as his ability to speak is what he is saying – his point of view on sustainability is pivotal, visionary, inspirational and essential in today’s corporate environment. I first saw him speak at a Fast Company event last spring and immediately after the talk I asked him to come speak at Smart Design because I knew his point of view is essential in shaping the way designers should be thinking as they create new consumer experiences.

Anthony Do Bitonto

Vice President, Industrial Design

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