The quarterly print magazine Conscious Company has named Maurits Groen, co-founder and co-CEO of WakaWaka, the maker of solar-powered flashlights and chargers, as one of the magazine’s Top Conscious Business Leaders 2018.
Groen was named to the list of Global Impact Entrepreneurs, honoring both the thinkers who have advanced the conscious business movement over the years and the entrepreneurs making a difference on the ground. The complete list can be found in Conscious Company’s Summer 2018 issue.
Nearly 100 business leaders were nominated, with just 21 role models selected based on the depth of their personal transformation work as leaders, the conscious workplaces they create and the positive global impact of their businesses and ideas. The list recognizes leaders in three areas of influence: personal journey, conscious workplace and global impact. Nine leading experts in the leadership/mindfulness, company culture and business impact spaces judged the nominees.
The magazine reads, “Groen has been an author, publisher, entrepreneur and sustainability expert for over 30 years,” according to Conscious Company. “In the 1980s, he advised the Dutch government on its environmental policy plan. Later, he translated and published Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” book into Dutch. One of the serial entrepreneur’s current ventures, WakaWaka (which means “shine bright” in Swahili), is a B Corp on a mission to end energy poverty by providing access to reliable, clean and affordable energy to those who lack it—more than one-third of the world’s population. The company develops, manufactures and markets premium solar-powered flashlights and chargers distributed in over 40 countries. For every purchase, WakaWaka holds promise to light up a life of a person living off-grid through its Share the Sun program, particularly in remote regions and disaster-struck or war-torn areas.”
“I like that he’s a thought leader, and I like his model of combining retail sales, donations and reduced-priced sales in partnership with nonprofits,” said Nathan Havey of Thrive Consulting Group, one of the judges.
“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by Conscious Company for this award,” said Groen. “The work WakaWaka and our team across the globe does is truly life-changing, and we feel fortunate that we’ve been able to make a difference in many, many peoples’ lives. Thank you.”
When asked his advice to other business leaders looking to excel in the Global Impact Entrepreneur category, Groen offered, “A good and spirited team is crucial for success. So look not only for the best and the brightest, but foremost for a combination of diverse and dedicated team players. And never give up. Ever.”
The Top Conscious Business Leaders 2018 honorees also include Gary Hirschberg of Stonyfield Farm, Haley Robison of Kammok and Paul Rice of Fair Trade USA. To read the complete List, please visit here.
