By Christopher Lee (Stern ’26) 

On December 3, NYU Stern hosted Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia, and Corley Kenna, head of communications and policy at Patagonia, for a fireside chat in Professor Alex Puutio’s “Organizational Communications” class, one of Stern’s Social Impact Core classes. The event drew over 200 attendees for an engaging discussion on sustainable business, transparency, and the role of individuals in addressing global challenges.

Gellert opened with a call to action, urging students to shape the future with intention: “The cement is not dry… you all understand what is important to you and what is at stake.” He emphasized Patagonia’s mission to lead by example in “doing business differently, more responsibly — however imperfectly.”

Kenna highlighted Patagonia’s emphasis on humility, acknowledging that the company openly confronts its imperfections. While mistakes are inevitable, she explained, Patagonia prioritizes transparency and adaptability, consistently finding ways to improve. Both speakers shared the company’s efforts to address complex environmental challenges, particularly decarbonizing its supply chain, building on achievements in renewable energy and fair trade practices.

The discussion also underscored Patagonia’s ethos of spending time in nature as a foundation for its mission and commitment to strong customer relationships—evidenced by operating the largest apparel repair facility in North America. Gellert encouraged attendees to “vote with their careers” by aligning professional aspirations with personal values.

During the Q&A, students posed thoughtful questions on topics like work-life balance and the challenges of CEOs serving diverse stakeholders. Gellert and Kenna left the audience with a resonant message: “If you have a strong point of view and believe it is worth fighting for, fight for it.”

The conversation offered valuable insights into the intersection of business, sustainability, and individual action, emphasizing the collaborative effort needed to address the climate crisis. Gellert concluded with a reminder that solving these challenges requires not only government intervention but also individuals and businesses stepping into uncomfortable roles to drive positive change.

Gellert recommended exploring Patagonia Action Works to those students looking to connect more directly with environmental organizations and movements in their area.