Gil Friend

Sustainability Pioneer, Founder of Natural Logic Inc, Former Chief Sustainability Officer

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Gil Friend Biography

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.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/20/2024.

Gil Friend Speaking Topics

  • Getting The Prices Right

    Why capitalism can't work right until it stops lying to itself about what things really cost

    For:

    • CXOs
    • Senior Executives
    • Investment professionals
    • Sustainability managers
    • Climate and Sustainability activists
    • Economists
    • Policy analysts

  • The Mysteriously Elusive Sustainability Business Case

    How smart companies are making sustainability, regeneration, and climate action their secret door to massive business value...how your biggest brand promise can open that secret door...and why other companies are still working way too hard NOT to get it.

    For:

    • CXOs
    • Senior Executives
    • Investment professionals
    • Sustainability managers
    • Climate professionals
    • General audiences

  • Why Smart Cities Aren't So Smart—And Why Living Cities Can Be

    How cities around the world have jumped to the forefront of the sustainability revolution, what your city can do next about climate, energy, water, housing, mobility, green surfaces, adaptation, finance, and inclusion--and why it might be easier to deal with them all together rather than separately.

    (This topic draws on what I learned as the first Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Palo Alto (from both successes and failures), as an international speaker on urban innovation, and as a pioneer in urban ecology.)

    For:

    • Elected officials
    • Municipal executives and directors
    • Smart city vendors
    • Urban planners
    • Civic organizations
    • Real estate developers
    • Community organizers
      • General audiences

  • Why CFOs Should Take the Lead On Climate

    Facing climate risk and strategic duty...by moving beyond quarterly capitalism in a carbon-constrained world...and making the new world work for your business--and your career.

    For:

    • Chief Financial Officers
    • Senior Executives
    • Investment professionals
    • Sustainability managers
    • Government regulators

  • Navigating The Anthropocene—Leading In An Uncertain World

    How your business can apply 3.8 billion years of open-source R&D to thrive in the unparalleled uncertainty of the 21st century...and... How leaders can adapt, anticipate, and thrive-in an era of crisis and turmoil-with grace, dignity, and power.

    For:

    • CXOs
    • Senior Executives
    • Investment professionals
    • Sustainability managers
    • Climate professionals
    • General audiences

Gil Friend Videos

  • Gil Friend - Sustainability, A Fundamental Element of Business ...
    https://www.bigspeak.com/speakers/gil-friend/ Gil Friend, systems ecologist and business strategist, is a provocative, thoughtful, and ruthlessly ...
  • Gil Friend on making Palo Alto the greenest city in America - YouTube
    A talk given at Franchise for Humanity 2015. Franchise for Humanity hosted its second annual working conference on February 20th and 21st ...

Gil Friend Books

  • The Truth About Green Business
    The Truth About Green Business

FAQs on booking Gil Friend

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  • What topics does Gil Friend speak about?

    Gil Friend is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Corporate Culture, Economy, Energy, Environment, Ethics & Integrity, Human Resources, Innovation, Sustainability.
  • Where does Gil Friend travel from?

    Gil Friend generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Gil Friend is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Getting The Prices Right, The Mysteriously Elusive Sustainability Business Case, Why Smart Cities Aren't So Smart—And Why Living Cities Can Be, Why CFOs Should Take the Lead On Climate and Navigating The Anthropocene—Leading In An Uncertain World. The estimated speaking fee range to book Gil Friend for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Gil Friend generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Andrew Winston, Tim Sanders, Amy Myers Jaffe, Richard Florida and Tensie Whelan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Gil Friend for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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