Darcy Winslow

In 1999, Darcy Winslow spearheaded a major sustainability effort at Nike to ensure that the creation of the world's most recognizable brand of athletic-wear was also the most socially responsible and environmentally friendly. Winslow and her team brought a sustainability revolution to Nike with a series of real-world, product design and engineering changes, affecting Nike plants around the world--an investment that re-branded Nike for the 21st century, ensuring that the company's reputation and practices matched the increasing public awareness of sustainability and "green" issues. She most recently served as general manager for Nike's Global Women's Fitness Business and as senior advisor to the Nike Foundation, which seeks to empower disadvantaged girls ages 10 to 19 years, through poverty alleviation and the creation of economic livelihood opportunities.

She speaks with passion about the innovative practices that can turn a company doing business-as-usual into a company that leads the way in creating innovative--and profitable--solutions to the demands of the modern business and physical environments.

Creating a Green Life Cycle. In her years at Nike, she practiced what she now preaches, leading several company-wide initiatives, including leading a holistic business re-alignment effort within the Nike brand. She began working with Nike factories around the world in 1990, in which she visited production lines and learned about the health of workers and the production practices that could be improved. As a result of her research and explorative work in this field, Nike is striving to eliminate waste in production and harmful substances, and working to ensure that all their products are recyclable and re-useable.

Sustainability from the Top Down. An executive-in-residence and senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Winslow's message is driven by the need to develop and implement more environmentally and socially sustainable business strategies across an organization. Winslow is the founder of Designs for a Sustainable World Collective, LLC, a firm that focuses on the development of practical yet aggressive strategies for organizations to create and adopt more sustainable and ultimately regenerative business practices.

Sustainable Inspiration. Winslow recently participated in the 2009 Inspire Antarctic Expedition, hosted by British Petroleum and led by polar explorer, Robert Swan. As a fellow participant on this expedition, she played a vital role in helping shape the program activities and by bringing depth and experience to the dialogue regarding Climate Change and the growing vulnerability of natural resources and ecosystems. The expedition created a unique opportunity to engage climate scientists, business leaders, youth leaders, and polar experts to come together in unprecedented collaboration to better understand the roles we play as individual citizens, as members of corporations and universities, and as active community leaders. The lessons, stories, projects and images from this expedition are profound and transformational. She continues to work with Robert Swan and his 2041 team on upcoming expeditions.

More About Darcy Winslow. Winslow received her BS in exercise science and MS in exercise physiology and biomechanics, and is a 2003 graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the National Climate Prosperity Project, Inc., World Pulse Media/Pulse Wire; Greenopolis; The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, and the Council for Responsible Sport. She serves on the Board of Directors for Ziba Design, Inc. and is an active member of the Society for Organizational Learning and Sustainability Consortium. She is also a lifelong athlete and enjoys traveling the world.