Blake Mycoskie
BIOGRAPHY
Blake Mycoskie is a lifelong seeker and entrepreneur, most widely known as the Founder of TOMS shoes, the groundbreaking shoe company that pioneered the “one for one” model. For or every pair sold, TOMS donated a pair to a child in need, sparking a generation of conscious consumers and reframing corporate responsibility as both cool and essential. Beyond TOMS, Blake has devoted his career to building ventures that drive meaningful change. He launched five businesses outside of TOMS and authored the New York Times bestseller Start Something That Matters, a call to action for entrepreneurs to align profit with purpose.
A word from Blake:
A few years ago, in the middle of what looked like the height of my success, after selling TOMS Shoes and helping give 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need, I was battling depression. It got so bad that I almost took my life. Thankfully I didn’t, and instead went on a long healing journey- trying everything from therapy, plant medicine, neurofeedback, TMS, ashrams, pharmaceuticals (getting on and getting off), hypnosis, and more.
TOPICS & FORMATS
Blake is on a recalibrated mission — one that will help everyone facing a daunting ‘What’s Next?’ chapter in their lives.
He is excited to speak to audiences who have come through challenge and hardship for any reason — and who are contemplating the unknown with a mixture of excitement and worry. He offers two variations of his brand new, signature keynote: one for a corporate audience (below) and the version for college and university audiences (below that). Both are designed to equip, engage, and build clarity around what truly matters.
CORPORATE AUDIENCES
Enough: Rethinking Success In a World that Wants More
I built TOMS from a simple idea into a global brand. We gave away over 100 million pairs of shoes and helped change how companies think about doing good. I poured everything into it—time, energy, focus. And when it all worked, and I stepped away, I assumed I’d feel fulfilled. But instead, I found myself facing a harder question: what had really been driving me all along?What I came to understand is that success, if driven by the wrong fuel, doesn’t sustain. And without a clear sense of what’s enough—enough progress, enough proof, enough return—we can find ourselves overextending, overdelivering, and eventually, overwhelmed.This isn’t a talk about burnout. It’s a talk about clarity. About how the mindset behind our work matters as much as the work itself. For those working under pressure, managing public outcomes, and leading long, complex initiatives—knowing what’s enough isn’t just a personal question. It’s a strategic one. I’ll share what I learned from building a purpose-led company at scale—and the tools that help me stay focused, steady, and clear in a world fueled by adrenaline.Takeaways
- A fresh framework for defining “enough” in complex, high-accountability work
- How overachievement without clarity creates hidden costs
- Tools for making better decisions under pressure—by knowing what you’re really chasing
- Lessons from building TOMS: what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently
- Simple habits to support long-term clarity, energy, and effectiveness
About Blake MycoskieBlake Mycoskie is the founder of TOMS and the creator of the One-for-One model, which helped reshape how businesses think about social impact and profitability. Under his leadership, TOMS became one of the world’s most successful social enterprises, giving away more than 100 million pairs of shoes. Blake’s work has been recognized by Fortune, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, and featured in Harvard Business Review and The New York Times. He’s widely regarded as a pioneer in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Today, Blake is focused on a different kind of leadership—one rooted in clarity, sustainability, and long-view decision-making. His talks speak to professionals navigating pressure, complexity, and ambition—and offer a way to keep showing up with focus and purpose, without losing sight of what really matters.—–
You are Enough: Redefining Success in a World That Wants More
For Those Navigating Their Future
I founded TOMS on the belief that doing good could be good for business, and that success wasn’t just about profits—it was about purpose. But as the company grew, I learned a deeply painful and personal lesson: If we don’t define what’s enough for ourselves, we get caught in an endless cycle of striving, comparing, and overdelivering—and the personal toll is immense. I’d like to offer my own journey as an example of how well-intentioned efforts can lead to dark places and what I’d recommend to others navigating the balance between ambition and self-worth.
As you step into your next chapter—whether that’s heading into the workforce, building a business, or continuing your education—you’ll be bombarded with messages about doing more, achieving more, and proving yourself. But the truth is, success doesn’t come from constantly chasing more. It comes from clarity—knowing your values, your limits, and what you’re really after.
I want to share with you the framework that helped me define success on my own terms and how you might do the same —without burning out or losing sight of what matters most. Because, in a world that’s always asking for more, the hardest part isn’t achieving—it’s knowing when to stop and say, “Enough.”
Key Takeaways
- Redefining “Enough”: Understanding success through your own lens, not through anyone else’s expectations.
- From TOMS to Today: What I’ve learned about balancing ambition and sustainability.
- Building Habits That Honor a Balanced Vision: Simple, yet powerful, ways to ensure your actions are aligned with your true purpose and healthy limits
Videos
Testimonials
Blake is speaking at Steve Wozniak and Jewel’s Inaugural Mental Health Summit in Las Vegas (Nov 2025) – and a brand new initiative and mission will be launching next month. If you want a confidential sneak peek, please be sure to write to ConfidentialMycoskie@NewLeafSpeakers.com and I’ll provide the inside scoop.