Gil Friend

Gil Philip Friend, the founder, chair, and CEO of Natural Logic Inc, and Critical Path Capital, advises leading companies, communities, and investors on business-driving sustainability strategies. He is also the founder and chair of a new impact investment firm that focuses on sustainable business practices.

Friend has been a noted sustainability pioneer for nearly 50 years and is widely acknowledged as one of the founders of the sustainable business movement. He was named an inaugural member of the Sustainability Hall of Fame (along with Ray Anderson, Amory Lovins, Karl-Henrik Robert, and Bob Willard) by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, and "one of the 10 most influential sustainability voices in America" by The Guardian.

From December 2013 to November 2018, Friend served as the first Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Palo Alto, California, where he led the development of one of the most aggressive climate action plans in the US, which aimed for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Under his guidance, the city achieved a 56% reduction by his departure. He delivers keynote speeches on topics including smart, sustainable cities and the role of CFOs in sustainability, highlighting his commitment to rethinking business in light of climate change and sustainability challenges.

A systems ecologist and business strategist with nearly 50 years of experience, Friend combines broad business experience with unique content experience spanning strategy, systems ecology, economic development, management cybernetics, and public policy. He has advised clients such as Hewlett Packard, Levi Strauss, and Coca-Cola on designing, implementing, and measuring sustainability strategies that deliver significant impact and value.

In addition to his leadership roles, Friend serves on the boards of directors of multiple organizations, including Blue Planet Energy and Inquiring Systems, Inc. He has held notable positions such as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Oregon State University and Adjunct Faculty at Presidio Graduate School. He is the author of "The Truth About Green Business" and has contributed to several influential publications in the field of sustainability.

Friend holds an M.S. degree in systems ecology from Antioch University and is a seasoned practitioner of "The Natural Step" environmental management system. He continues to be a key figure in inspiring, challenging, and supporting leaders to build prosperity and strategic advantage by managing through the lens of deep purpose informed by billions of years of natural evolution.