Blake Mycoskie

Social entrepreneur revolutionizing philanthropy through TOMS Shoes' 'One for One' model

Blake Mycoskie disrupted traditional business models by founding TOMS Shoes in 2006 with a radical idea: every purchase funds free shoes for children in need. This One for One concept sparked a global movement in conscious consumerism, inspiring over 100 million donations across 70+ countries by 2023.

Beyond footwear, Mycoskie expanded the model to eyewear (restoring sight) and coffee (providing clean water). His 2011 book Start Something That Matters became a manifesto for social enterprises, featured in Harvard Business Review as a blueprint for profit-purpose alignment.

Critics initially dismissed TOMS as unsustainable, but Mycoskie responded by shifting to local manufacturing in recipient countries—creating jobs while addressing needs. This pivot reduced dependency on donations by 60% between 2015-2020, proving ethical business can evolve.