‘Worth’ Magazine Names Three Outdoor Industry Leaders to Inaugural ‘Worthy 100’ List

Three business leaders from the outdoor industry were named to Worth magazine’s inaugural “Worthy 100” list this week—a new “roster of innovators in business who are also uniquely contributing to broader social goals.”

“It shows that recognition is going to those who actually create social impact, and that that is becoming a metric of success,” Mpowerd founder and CBDO John Salzinger told Outside Business Journal. He made the list along with Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and Cotopaxi CEO and co-founder Davis Smith. 

The writers at Worth noted Mpowerd’s broad commitment to expanding safe light access to poor and underserved communities while also mentioning its sustainability efforts. Smith was mentioned as part of Cotopaxi’s efforts to use sustainable materials across its entire production, along with the work it has done supporting families and communities in Latin America.

Chouinard’s inclusion should come as little surprise, as he is widely considered one of the cornerstone innovators of the modern outdoor business. Both he and Smith were unavailable for comment at press time.

The list is split into 13 categories: Finance, Retail, Tech, Food & Beverage, Environmental Betterment, Travel, Media, Non-Profit, Music, Real Estate and Development, Software, Professional Services, and Miscellaneous. Smith and Chouinard are listed in the Retail category. Salzinger landed in Environmental Betterment. 

Some of the other notable names on the list include Serena Williams, Sir Richard Branson, Rihanna, and Eileen Fisher. 

As one of the few representatives from the outdoor industry, Salzinger is excited by what the mention could mean at a higher level.

“We’re all capable of making the right choices and valuing others and our environment,” he said. “Hopefully my addition can inspire everyday people to achieve material positive impact. Our world desperately needs it now more than ever.”