John Mackey
Co-founder and former CEO, Whole Foods Market; CEO, Love.Life
Conscious Leadership
Necker Island recap · 1st edition
Principled Business Summit at Necker Island 2024
January 3 to January 6, 2024 · Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
The first Principled Business Summit at Necker Island brought participants to Sir Richard Branson's private island in the British Virgin Islands from January 3 to 6, 2024, around the theme of business as a force for good. Almost everyone presented on what they were doing and how they wanted to work together.
Featured guests
Dame Prue Leith
Restaurateur, broadcaster and author
How do we prioritize happiness, honesty, transparency and human relations over size and money?
Joe De Sena
Founder and CEO, Spartan Race
I Am Spartan
Sir Richard Branson
Founder, Virgin Group; island host
Sir Richard Branson hosted the Summit on Necker Island, his private island in the British Virgin Islands.
By the numbers
44
Participants named in the program
Program
Arrival Wednesday, January 3, 2024
- 3:30 PM boats from Loose Mongoose
- Champagne welcome at the Great House
- Cocktails, then Q&A over dinner on the Southern Terrace (White clothing night)
Day 1 Thursday, January 4, 2024
- Optional island walk
- Content sessions at the Great House from 8:30 AM
- Special guest talks: John Mackey, Prue Leith and Joe De Sena
- Lunch at the Crocodile Table
- Lemur feeding
- Tennis and pickleball tournament
- Cocktails, Q&A and dinner at Turtle Beach (Jungle theme night)
Day 2 Friday, January 5, 2024
- Yoga and meditation
- Content sessions, including Alba Torremocha on Cymatics: The Power of Sound
- Sushi lunch at the Beach Bar
- Snorkelling, Hobie sailing and kayaking
- Cocktails, Q&A and dinner at the Temple (Casino Night, black tie optional)
Departure Saturday, January 6, 2024
- Breakfast, then check out by 12:00 PM
Highlights
- John Mackey described passionate and inspiring individuals, insightful conversations and lots of great pickleball.
- Days after the Summit, participants held a first reunion, and Sir Richard Branson invited two participants he met on the island to a dinner at the Virgin Hotel Dallas.
Photos
In their words
"It was an incredible experience filled with passionate and inspiring individuals, insightful conversations, and lots of great pickleball. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have created so many new relationships with people I otherwise wouldn't have crossed paths with."
"Thank you Alex and team for an incredible event! So many great connections and takeaways. The cold plunge in boulder creek amidst the snow this morning was a far cry from Necker Island, and the tan is already fading, but the memories will not! Until next time."
"Very meaningful conversations for me included Tarren Bragdon, whose four adopted kids make for a perfect case study of multi-ethnicity; Joe De Sena, who downplays 'Race' in marketing 'Spartan Race' to avoid limiting his customers; and master impresario Michael Dorf."
"My favorite part was meeting everyone (and the amazing animals). As an aspiring entrepreneur, I cannot express how invaluable and insightful this experience was."