Founder and CEO | Cotopaxi

Davis is the CEO of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand with a social mission at its core. He is also a member of the eight-person United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. Davis was previously the Co-CEO of Baby.com.br and Dinda.com.br, Brazil’s Startup of the Year in 2012, which raised over $50 million in venture capital. In 2004, he also founded, and later sold, PoolTables.com, America’s largest pool table retailer. Primary responsibilities in his current position include setting Cotopaxi’s vision, mission, strategic growth, team building, fundraising and social impact.

EDUCATION & DEGREE(S) ACHIEVED: B.A., International Studies, Brigham Young University. M.B.A., The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. M.A., International Studies, University of Pennsylvania

BEST ADVICE I WAS GIVEN OR THAT I WOULD GIVE: Culture is everything. If you want to build an amazing business or brand, you must first build an amazing place to work. Culture and Brand are just two sides of the same coin.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME: The biggest physical challenge I’ve ever overcome was kayaking from Cuba to Florida. The biggest emotional challenge I’ve overcome is the failure of a ten-year friendship and business partnership – it was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever had.

MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE LEARNED: Businesses have the ability to use profits to have social impact, but they also have the power to inspire their followers/customers to do good. We have a responsibility to find ways to impact people’s lives for the better through business.

I COULDN’T DO MY JOB WITHOUT: My team. I have two amazing co-founders and a team who are passionate about building the next big outdoor brand, while helping make the world a better place.

WHAT YOU WOULD WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE: Showing my children that success is measured by how you’ve used your life to be in service of others.

WHAT OR WHO HAS ENABLED YOU TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL: My wife has been my biggest support from my first day as an entrepreneur.

BIGGEST LIFE LESSON: Serving others brings true happiness.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN TWO WORDS: Entrepreneurial Humanitarian