Courtney Boyd Myers
Courtney Boyd Myers is a community builder, writer, and entrepreneur. She is the cofounder of AKUA, a sustainable food company that created the world’s first Kelp Jerky, a vegan snack made from regeneratively ocean-farmed kelp that was recognized by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea and by Time Magazine as an Invention of the Year.
For six years, Courtney known as “CBM” has helped build the Summit Community, a global network of founders, creatives, and innovators. And most recently, she has helped start a private home-sharing network called MyPlace. Previously, she helped market companies such as Four Sigmatic, Raya, General Assembly, SecondHome, and Transferwise. She began her career as a journalist at Forbes Magazine, The Next Web, and The Huffington Post. Courtney has also been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, and one of Business Insider’s 30 Most Important Women Under 30 in Technology.
3 words to describe Nature?
Heavenly. Powerful. Vulnerable.
3 things Nature taught you?
Everything we need is all around us.
Stay present and have faith that it's all going to be okay.
We need to be kind to our fellow Earthlings.
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Big Bay, a kite spot just outside of Cape Town, South Africa
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, where you can spend your days warm water surfing and your nights sleeping in the jungle.
Lake George, NY where I am currently quarantined!
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
At home
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Child-like
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Strong
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Grateful
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Romantic
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Excited
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Ocean
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
The Little Mermaid came out when I was 5 years old and my life forever changed. I remember the feeling of being 5, 6, 7, 8 years old and every summer just staring at my legs in the swimming pool, and wishing I could grow fins. All these years later, and I am still trying to figure out how to be a mermaid.
David Labistour
DAVID LABISTOUR is a Board Member for Aritzia and former Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Canada’s leading outdoor retailer.
With a professional experience spanning over 30 years working with companies such as Adidas, Woolworths, one of South Africa’s most successful retailers, and Aritzia - David’s diversified international experience has covered Design and Product Development in apparel, gear and food, retail product management, Brand management and complex Strategic planning and execution. His Management and Leadership experience has developed in Private, Public, Co-op and military environments.
David is MEC’s first CEO to have been appointed from within the 46-year-old organization. In his former capacity as the Senior Manager of Buying and Design, David was part of the Executive team that transformed the MEC Brand and shaped MEC’s award-winning recognition as Canada’s Best and Most Trusted Brand whilst equally encompassing sustainability initiatives operation wide.
David lives in Deep Cove with his wife Lianne, sons Liam and Felix, and indulges in a “jack of all trades, master of none” approach to a range of activities including such things as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kite surfing.
3 words to describe Nature?
We. Are. Nature
3 things Nature taught you?
Consider the bigger system of things.
Nothing is simple or linear
Nature is a part of us and we are a part of nature
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Too many to pick one. The world is full of wonder. From your front door to the wildest and remotest of places
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Like riding a wave
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Like climbing a tree
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
I have never seen a live volcano up close
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Sunrise = new possibilities. A beautiful sunset on a warm evening = tranquility/ relaxation
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Depends on what my situation is. In the wild = batten the hatches. At home = energy
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Depends on my situation. On the beach = time to kite.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
Ocean first, then mountain.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
See question 1
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
I grew up on a farm in the foothills of the mountains, went to school on a nature reserve and holidayed on the ocean. That was my childhood.