Simon Mainwaring is the founder of We First & Main Advisory and a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, globally ranked keynote speaker, and founder of two influential practices at the intersection of brand strategy, leadership, and AI. As CEO of We First, he has spent two decades advising the world's most admired companies, including Unilever, Bain Capital, and the UN Foundation, on building brands defined by coherence, trust, and purpose. His books, We First and Lead With We, have shaped how leaders around the world think about collective impact and the role of business in society. He is also the founder of Main Advisory, an exclusive advisory and coaching practice for top CEOs and business leaders navigating AI integration, organizational trust, and long-term brand resilience. He is one of the few voices credibly bridging brand strategy, emerging technology, and human values, earning him a reputation as a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders across industries and continents. Australian-born and Miami-based, Simon is a father of two and a passionate, if self-admittedly very average surfer.
Simon Mainwaring
Founder & CEO
We First, Inc.
Turning employees and top management into sustainability advocates and champions
This session will host a candid discussion about internal company practices that have stood the test of time in terms of helping turn employees and top management into sustainability advocates and champions. In addition to covering tactics proven eff... View More
Leadership in sustainability-centric governance: Guidance on achieving and maintaining sustained excellence
This insight-packed session will provide a compilation of best practices and advice on several key dimensions of sustainability-minded governance. The range of governance issues covered will include: putting purpose into practice in effective and las... View More
Turning employees and top management into sustainability advocates and champions
This session will host a candid discussion about internal company practices that have stood the test of time in terms of helping turn employees and top management into sustainability advocates and champions. In addition to covering tactics proven eff... View More
ESG Under Fire: How to Build Brand Love and Shift Consumer Behavior In Uncertain Times
Economic headwinds, stakeholder expectations, and rising regulation have complicated the ESG landscape leaving many business leaders confused, conflicted, or paralyzed. So how do you make sense of this moment? How do you earn the trust of employees a... View More
ESG Under Fire: How to Build Brand Love and Shift Consumer Behavior In Uncertain Times
Economic headwinds, stakeholder expectations, and rising regulation have complicated the ESG landscape leaving many business leaders confused, conflicted, or paralyzed. So how do you make sense of this moment? How do you earn the trust of employees a... View More
Anti-ESG Rhetoric in US Unaligned with Public’s Views on Business Imperative for Action
Two-thirds of US adults surveyed want companies to continue environmental, social, governance action; more than half have positive view of the term. ... View More
SB Webinar - Addressing System-Level Change for Circularity: The Central Role of Partnerships
Leadership no longer looks like a large company beating the competition to an incredible, unique solution; it looks like changing the system through collaborative innovation. “We know we can’t do it alone” is a phrase used frequently by a wide ... View More
Developing and Aligning on Brand Purpose
Join this session to explore the importance of intentional brand positioning in order to create a strong purpose statement. Panelists will also jump into what true purpose activation looks like (hint: it's not just about doing good!), and explore the... View More
Developing and Aligning on Brand Purpose
Join this session to explore the importance of intentional brand positioning in order to create a strong purpose statement. Panelists will also jump into what true purpose activation looks like (hint: it's not just about doing good!), and explore the... View More
Advancing Regeneration Through Brands
Nestlé announced its intention to advance regenerative food systems at scale and its brands will play a crucial role in bringing that intention to life. From engaging with consumers and key opinion leaders to working with farmers and suppliers along... View More
‘Lead With We’: How to Drive Business Growth Through Collectivized Purpose
Business leaders are best positioned to facilitate meaningful change — not only for our bottom lines, but for the collective good. Together, we will create a transcendent practice of business that restores and protects the natural and social system... View More
Day 2-B2A6: Pursuing Good food Good life through brands
We only have one planet. We must protect, restore and renew our planet’s resources today and for future generations. Brands can have a unique opportunity to connect with consumer to create a positive impact not only on the environment, but to nurtu... View More
Day 3-B3A6: The “Virtuous Spiral” of Transcendent Business: How To Lead With We
You can grow your business even as you wholly commit to humanity & the planet—even during this unprecedented confluence of crises. In fact, relevance & long-term prosperity for your business will absolutely depend on it. How you get there is to Lea... View More
Purpose at Work: How Wrangler Is Creating the Next Generation of Sustainable Fashion
Wrangler is taking big steps to achieve sustainability. By tackling the industry’s biggest challenges, the jeans giant is carving out a competitive advantage and helping other apparel makers improve industry practices. ... View More
Purpose at Work: How to Engage Consumers to Do Good at Scale
Consumers want to help brands shape their culture and impact. To ignite impact-driven consumer engagement you must build awareness, create a foundation for action, and inspire consumers to join you. ... View More
Purpose at Work: How Brandless Creates Community by Making Better Stuff Available to All
Communicating your brand’s purpose is vital to creating emotional connections with your customers. But it must be done authentically and in line with your overall brand positioning, story and tone of voice. ... View More
How SAP's Purposeful Customer Network Solves Business & World Challenges
“Be authentic. You may have lost it for whatever reason: acquisition, merger, leadership changes, a value prop has evolved … but never forget where you came from.” — Alicia Tillman, SAP ... View More
