Fast Company July/August 2017

something to believe in

What kind of world do you want to live in? This is a question that is always worthwhile to ask ourselves. For me, I’d be cool with a world full of electric cars and self-sustaining solar-powered homes. It would be great if we weren’t spewing so many toxins into the environment, and if we sustainably generated our own energy. That may be why so many people are enamored of Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla. His business is predicated on a vision of the future that’s pretty darn appealing. I’d also love a world where people can seamlessly share content, and where everyone with a creative idea has an equal opportunity to publicize their work—and make a living from it. That’s the promise behind YouTube, and one reason folks…

wheels of fortune

Sarah Robb O’Hagan CEO, Flywheel Sports When the indoor-cycling startup Flywheel Sports asked Sarah Robb O’Hagan to be its new CEO in 2016, she didn’t have to think long about her answer. “I was like, ‘Absolutely not,’ ” recalls the executive, who had left her job as president of exercise chain Equinox (parent company of Flywheel competitor SoulCycle) earlier that year. At the time, she was writing her first book, and she wasn’t eager to return to the C-suite. But as Flywheel continued to pursue her, Robb O’Hagan grew more impressed with the brand’s focus on fitness, technology, and personal growth. Finally, she took the job. Almost six months later, the New Zealand native is steering Flywheel in new directions. This fall, the company is moving into Peloton’s territory and launching its own…

the mayo effect

Unilever In April, consumer-goods giant Unilever, the parent company of more than 80 food brands including Hellmann’s and Ben & Jerry’s, moved further into the fast-growing natural-foods market with its reported $140 million acquisition of condiment maker Sir Kensington’s. Founded in 2010, the startup is known for its artisanal, non-GMO ketchups, mustards, and mayonnaises; its vegan Fabanaise swaps eggs for aquafaba, the liquid left over after cooking chickpeas. With products in only 6,000 stores nationwide, Sir Kensington’s is minuscule compared to Hellmann’s, America’s No. 1 mayo brand. But the buy comes as Unilever is looking for ways to recapture consumers’ attention—and revitalize its portfolio—after a sales slowdown that has spurred it to consider selling off some of its food brands. “There is an energy and spirit that comes with a small company…

how to kill your cubicle

WeWork The WeWork approach to office design—combining stylish-yetutilitarian shared work spaces with lively, collaborative social scenes—has become synonymous with startup culture. But big businesses also want in on what chief product officer David Fano calls the “WeWork vibe”—not to mention its cost and space efficiencies. In April, Fano announced a new initiative for the company: WeWork On-Site will provide businesses that have more than 1,000 employees and 50,000 square feet with interior design services and office-management support (such as conference-room booking and event planning). They’ll also have access to a “community manager,” who can connect employees with WeWork’s broader network of camaraderie-building programs, such as its annual adult summer camp. The ultimate goal, though, is to teach companies how to use space more efficiently—in other words, how to cowork. Earlier this year,…

the recommender

Design Twins planters From $140 designtwins.com “I’m trying to surround myself with little luxuries that make me feel happier and healthier, especially fresh greenery. I like pairing these hand-painted pots from Design Twins with some fiddle-leaves, ZZ plants, and cacti.” Mike Fuerstman Cofounder and creative director, Pendry Hotels Everything but the House Priced per item ebth.com “I’m slightly addicted to the Everything but the House app. I used to have more time for frequenting estate sales and I miss the thrill of the hunt, but this is a great replacement. You can find some amazing gems—literally and figuratively!” Raina Penchansky Cofounder and chief strategy officer, Digital Brand Architects Zwift cycling app $10 a month zwift.com “I enjoy cycling and need to do it daily. Zwift is a gaming app that hooks up to your devices via Bluetooth so you can simulate an…

heat of the moment

A decade after the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth made the threat of climate change real to millions of moviegoers, the film’s star, Al Gore, is back to make it even more so. In An Inconvenient Sequel, due in theaters July 28, he shares an outlook that is both more dire and more optimistic: Last year was the hottest ever on record, but it also marked a high point for installations of renewable energy. Gore believes that the momentum for positive change has become unstoppable, no matter what current politics might indicate. “We will solve this crisis,” Gore says. “No doubt about it.” What made you want to make a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth? Since we still have so much work to do, a lot of people over the past…