November 19th, 2020
Shared Economy Event
ABOUT
Learn from outstanding examples of successful companies that contribute to a global Circular Economy.
We will be exploring sustainable business models around the concepts of product as a service and redistributive markets.
The idea of “products as service” is prioritising the actual valuable use over ownership. For redistributive markets, think Craig’s list, OLX and beyond. Both business models are a crucial part of the circular economy as they improve the sustainable management of resources. This is done by diminishing the extraction of raw materials from the biosphere. The goal is to keep materials in use and “in the loop”: for as long as possible, in the best possible quality, by refurbishing, reselling, or remanufacturing. Only as a last resort are products recycled or scavenged for parts. Ideally, these business models also build a sense of community around products and their use-cases.
You will have the opportunity to participate through Q&As with company founders and representatives in two breakout rooms.
A recording of the panel discussions will be available after the event.
LINEUP
Introduction:
HCES Introduction : Carrie Snyder, Instructor, Harvard Extension School
Keynote:
Robert Metzke, Global Head of Sustainability at Philips
Simultaneous Panel Session 1: Moderator - Sergio Jacinto
Safia Qureshi: Founder and CEO, Cup Club
Ana Garcia: Global Head of Sustainability, Olx
Richard Burger: Founder, Swapfiets
Gene Homicki: Founder and CEO, myturn
Simultaneous Panel Session 2: Moderator - Jessica Patterson
Anne Kirby: Founder and Art Director, Candy Factory
Shelly Xu: Founder, Shelly Xu Design
Dr. Greg Lavery: Founder, Rype Office
Erick Bouwer: Founder and CEO, Circos
Conclusion: Johanna Schiele
Conclusion:
Johanna Schiele, HKS MPP Candidate and McCloy Fellow
SPEAKER BIOS
Robert Metzke, Global Head of Sustainability at Philips
Mr. Metzke leads Philips’ activities in Sustainability where he drives the company’s strategy towards innovative, sustainable business models and embedding sustainable and circular ways of working across Philips.
In particular, Robert and his team are leading all activities with regards to Philips' environmental responsibility, with a focus on climate action, circular economy and expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities, as part of Philips overall purpose to improve people's health and well-being. Before joining Philips, Mr. Metzke worked at McKinsey & Company as a consultant where he gained 5 years of experience in strategy and innovation in the high-tech, healthcare and public sectors. Mr. Metzke has a background in journalism, science publishing (Science/ AAAS) and academic research (physics). He is married, has three children and lives in the Netherlands.
Safia Qureshi: Founder and CEO, Cup Club
Safia Qureshi is an award-winning Architect, innovation designer and educator. Born in London, UK, she graduated in architecture from University College London with First Class Honours and went on to do a Masters at the Royal College of Art.
For over three years, she worked as Lead Architect, at the architecture practice Sheppard Robson. As well as working on residential and mixed-use projects, she designed, coordinated and delivered large-scale commercial developments worth over £290 million. She left in 2015 to launch the creative design agency Studio [D] Tale. The agency based in London and Cape Town focuses on projects with high social and environmental impact in both emerging and established markets. It served as an incubator to launch CupClub.
CupClub was born of Safia’s interest in technology and design and how their intersection can boost the circular economy. She is passionate about empowering other founders, designers and technologists (women in particular) to think circular.
Ana Garcia: Global Head of Sustainability, Olx
Ana Carolina Garcia is an experienced communications professional, with over 15 years of experience at multinational companies in Brazil and Europe, including Walmart and Philips. Ana is an expert in strategically managing corporate reputation and stakeholder relations, and has successfully launched international branding campaigns and sustainability programmes. She holds a bachelor degree in Journalism, with a post-graduation in Public Relations and MBA from Chicago Booth. Today, Ana serves as the Global Head of Communication and Sustainability for OLX Group, a leading online classifieds group and a division of Prosus, the largest consumer internet company in Europe and one of the largest technology investors in the world
Richard Burger: Founder, Swapfiets
Richard is the founder of Swapfiets, the largest mobility membership provider. He started the company from a garage in the city of Delft (NL) with bikes, and it has grown successfully to almost 60 cities in 7 countries in the EU. Swapfiets’ goal is to expand their bike proposition with E-bikes, kick scooters and E-mopeds, leading the movement to create more liveable cities through our circular business model.
Gene is a graduated maritime engineer and has a strong passion for creating sustainable solutions that drive real business results. He loves to create a strong company culture and is energized by interactions with diverse people. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, reading a good book or cooking a healthy meal.
Gene Homicki: Founder and CEO, myturn
Gene, the co-founder and CEO of myTurn.com, pbc., is a serial entrepreneur and technology strategist with a passion for circular and regenerative systems. He has led teams creating cutting-edge technical solutions for organizations like the National Science Foundation, ABC News, the Economist, and other leading organizations for over two decades. The myTurn platform is used by startups, cities, universities, and enterprises around the world to radically increase product reuse, while simultaneously reducing consumption and waste of those very same items.
Anne Kirby: Founder and Art Director, Candy Factory
Shelly Xu: Founder, Shelly Xu Design
Shelly Xu (ex-McKinsey, ex-Prada, ex-Instagram) is a zero waste fashion designer building her startup at Harvard Business School. Her startup Shelly Xu Design (SXD) uses up-cycled fabric, zero fabric waste design, and zero inventory production to fundamentally change our relationship with clothing so that eliminating the negative externalities in what we wear becomes second nature rather than a compromise. SXD also works alongside machining experts to produce designs that can save up to 55% on production cost and are easy for local seamstresses to adopt, thereby creating jobs. The goal is to be the first fashion startup to make beautiful, accessible, 100% zero waste designs.
Dr. Greg Lavery: Founder, Rype Office
Greg is the founder and managing director of Rype Office, a circular economy office furniture remanufacturing business in the UK.
An engineer by training, Greg has focused his career on improving the sustainability of the built environment. Following an early career with Arup, Greg was awarded a PhD in sustainable building design in the 1990s. He built from startup what became Australia’s largest solar business, Origin Solar, and as a strategy consultant with Bain and Booz Allen Hamilton assisted organisations to create innovative sustainable business models, including Masdar City, Interface, Shell and ClimateWorks Australia.
Erick Bouwer: Founder and CEO, Circos
Erick Bouwer is the founding CEO of Circos. In addition, to date, he has advised and mentored 60+ impact ventures and investors to help build and grow a scalable, sustainable and profitable business. He is an Advisory Board Member @ LENA, the Fashion Library, Mentor-in-Residence @ Impact Hub, Investor Ready and Mentor-in-Residence @ Plug ‘n Play - Fashion for Good, Accelerator.
Prior to founding Circos, Erick spent two decades in corporate life in Banking, Automotive and Communications Technology Services. As Creative Strategy & Economics Executive, he enjoyed the privilege in leadership positions to help build, develop, transform and manage high performing international teams and practices in Pricing, Bid and Commercial Management.
Erick is Strategic Decision & Risk Management Executive Graduate from Stanford University (US) and studied Business Economics and Commercial Economics at Amsterdam University (AUAS) (NL).