Nathaniel is the Global Strategy Director at TOMS, the company known for its one-for-one business model of giving a pair of shoes for every purchase. He is passionate about social activism and businesses creating positive impact beyond just profits.
With an Australian upbringing, Nathaniel moved to the US with very little money, taking odd jobs before finding career success. His life journey has been unconventional, driven by a desire to embrace challenges bigger than himself for personal growth. He values intrinsic motivations over extrinsic rewards and believes life is often chaotic and unplanned, requiring flexibility and openness to opportunities as they arise.
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A core message was the value of committing to a mission bigger than oneself. Nathaniel believes choosing a mission to serve others is crucial for personal growth and self-discovery. It's through loving and serving a larger purpose that we can truly thrive as human beings.
The podcast explored the challenges Nathaniel faces at TOMS, a company that gives a third of profits to nonprofit partners. He highlighted the balance required between achieving business goals and maintaining an authentic mission to create positive impact.
Nathaniel also advised being genuinely curious about others rather than fixating on appearing interesting yourself. Asking questions and showing authentic interest draws people in. Finally, he explained how he seeks out mentors from diverse, unexpected places to gain different perspectives and continually learn.
The podcast emphasised the importance of embracing uncertainty and divergent thinking instead of getting locked into rigid plans. Nathaniel advocated for increasing the "surface area for serendipity" by trying new things, failing fast, and iterating, as this can lead to better outcomes.
Overall, the podcast advocated for flexibility, connecting to a larger purpose, balancing profit with positive impact, nurturing curiosity about others, and embracing lifelong learning from varied mentors.
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International Justice Mission: https://www.ijm.org/
Daughters of Cambodia: https://www.daughtersofcambodia.org/
TOMS: https://www.toms.com/
