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Gil Friend

President & Chief Executive Officer of Natural Logic

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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.

Friend has been a noted sustainability pioneer for nearly 50 years and is widely considered 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, acknowledging “those people that have contributed the most to the emerging field of sustainability,” and “one of the 10 most influential sustainability voices in America” by The Guardian.

From December 2013 to November 2018, he 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, winning unanimous city council support for a goal of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (and reaching 56% reduction by his departure to return to Natural Logic).

A systems ecologist and business strategist with nearly 50 years of experience in business, policy, communications, and environmental innovation, Mr. Friend combines broad business experience with unique content experience spanning strategy, systems ecology, economic development, management cybernetics, and public policy. He designed and developed the first interactive corporate sustainability dashboard (In the mid-1990s) and has advised clients (ranging from Odwalla and Equal Exchange to Hewlett Packard, Levi Straus, Sunpower, Steelcase, Avery Dennison, Coca-Cola, eBay, the US General Services Administration) on designing, implementing, and measuring sustainability strategies that deliver massive impact and value.

Friend was co-founder of the Insitute for Local Self-Reliance (where he built perhaps the first rooftop farm in the US, in the early 1970s), the Foundation for the Arts of Peace, the pre-internet company, Institute for Global Communications, and the Sustainable Business Alliance. He served in the Office of Appropriate Technology in the California Governor’s Office under Governor Jerry Brown, where he was an early 1980s pioneer of sustainable agriculture policies.

Friend serves on the boards of directors of Blue Planet Energy, Inquiring Systems, Inc., and Natural Logic, Inc., and previously on the advisory boards of CleanFish, Green Chamber of Commerce, Green World Campaign, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and Sustainable Brands. He served on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Clean Tech Advisory Council, and the executive board of OpenEco.org, and was twice named one of the Bay Area’s top 25 movers & shakers in cleantech.

Friend has served Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Oregon State Univesity, Expert-in Residence and Adjunct Faculty at Presidio Graduate School, and guest faculty at California College of the Arts, University of Southern California, and Goddard College. He lectures widely on business strategy and sustainability issues and wrote The New Bottom Line, a biweekly column for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate offering strategic perspectives on business and environment. Friend is author of the acclaimed book The Truth About Green Business and the forthcoming book, Profit on Purpose: Risk, Fiduciary Duty and the Laws of Nature; was co-author of Biofuels Development and Soil Productivity (1982); and has contributed chapters to several books, including Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century, Sustainable Enterprise Report, Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook, Sustainable Food Systems, and Stepping Stones.

He holds an M.S. degree in systems ecology from Antioch University, has a black belt in Aikido, and is a seasoned practitioner of “The Natural Step” environmental management system.

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

Videos
Books
The Truth About Green Business

The Truth About Green Business

FAQs
  • HOW TO BOOK Gil Friend?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Gil Friend for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Gil Friend, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Gil Friend or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Gil Friend?

    Speaking fees for Gil Friend, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Gil Friend charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Gil Friend, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Gil Friend?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Gil Friend for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Gil Friend for your next private or corporate function.
  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Gil Friend or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Gil Friend or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
Check Availability

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During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

President & Chief Executive Officer of Natural Logic

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Speaking Fee:

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.

Friend has been a noted sustainability pioneer for nearly 50 years and is widely considered 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, acknowledging “those people that have contributed the most to the emerging field of sustainability,” and “one of the 10 most influential sustainability voices in America” by The Guardian.

From December 2013 to November 2018, he 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, winning unanimous city council support for a goal of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (and reaching 56% reduction by his departure to return to Natural Logic).

A systems ecologist and business strategist with nearly 50 years of experience in business, policy, communications, and environmental innovation, Mr. Friend combines broad business experience with unique content experience spanning strategy, systems ecology, economic development, management cybernetics, and public policy. He designed and developed the first interactive corporate sustainability dashboard (In the mid-1990s) and has advised clients (ranging from Odwalla and Equal Exchange to Hewlett Packard, Levi Straus, Sunpower, Steelcase, Avery Dennison, Coca-Cola, eBay, the US General Services Administration) on designing, implementing, and measuring sustainability strategies that deliver massive impact and value.

Friend was co-founder of the Insitute for Local Self-Reliance (where he built perhaps the first rooftop farm in the US, in the early 1970s), the Foundation for the Arts of Peace, the pre-internet company, Institute for Global Communications, and the Sustainable Business Alliance. He served in the Office of Appropriate Technology in the California Governor’s Office under Governor Jerry Brown, where he was an early 1980s pioneer of sustainable agriculture policies.

Friend serves on the boards of directors of Blue Planet Energy, Inquiring Systems, Inc., and Natural Logic, Inc., and previously on the advisory boards of CleanFish, Green Chamber of Commerce, Green World Campaign, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and Sustainable Brands. He served on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Clean Tech Advisory Council, and the executive board of OpenEco.org, and was twice named one of the Bay Area’s top 25 movers & shakers in cleantech.

Friend has served Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Oregon State Univesity, Expert-in Residence and Adjunct Faculty at Presidio Graduate School, and guest faculty at California College of the Arts, University of Southern California, and Goddard College. He lectures widely on business strategy and sustainability issues and wrote The New Bottom Line, a biweekly column for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate offering strategic perspectives on business and environment. Friend is author of the acclaimed book The Truth About Green Business and the forthcoming book, Profit on Purpose: Risk, Fiduciary Duty and the Laws of Nature; was co-author of Biofuels Development and Soil Productivity (1982); and has contributed chapters to several books, including Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century, Sustainable Enterprise Report, Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook, Sustainable Food Systems, and Stepping Stones.

He holds an M.S. degree in systems ecology from Antioch University, has a black belt in Aikido, and is a seasoned practitioner of “The Natural Step” environmental management system.

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

FAQs on booking Gil Friend

  • How to book Gil Friend?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Gil Friend for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Gil Friend, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Gil Friend or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Gil Friend?

    Speaking fees for Gil Friend, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Gil Friend charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Gil Friend, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • Who is the agent for Gil Friend?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Gil Friend for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Gil Friend for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Gil Friend or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Gil Friend or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

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.

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 Speaker 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 ...

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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Speakers Similar to Gil Friend

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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