Necker Island recap · 2nd edition

    Principled Business Summit at Necker Island 2025

    March 12 to March 16, 2025 · Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

    The 2nd Annual Principled Business Summit at Necker Island ran from March 12 to 16, 2025, co-hosted by Alexander McCobin and Daniel Shakhani of Abraham House with Sir Richard Branson. The program centred on collaboration at three levels (professional, personal and principled), human flourishing, business as a force for good and purpose-driven leadership.

    Featured guests

    Sir Richard Branson

    Sir Richard Branson

    Founder, Virgin Group

    Morning hike around the island

    John Mackey

    John Mackey

    Co-founder and former CEO, Whole Foods Market

    Keynote; pickleball with John Mackey

    Brock Pierce

    Brock Pierce

    Chairman, The Bitcoin Foundation

    Evening Q&A

    Program

    A day at the Summit

    • 7:30 AM hike around the island led by Sir Richard Branson
    • 9:00 AM breakfast with turtles
    • 9:30 AM TED-style talks by participants, from how to overcome fear to the role of sound in driving our energy to tunnel-boring startups
    • 11:00 AM leadership workshop with executive coaches
    • 12:30 PM lunch in the pool or at the Crocodile Table
    • 2:00 PM free time, lemur feeding, pickleball with John Mackey, or 1:1 coaching
    • 6:30 PM cocktails at Turtle Beach
    • 7:00 PM Q&A with a luminary
    • 8:00 PM dinner on the beach

    Highlights

    • Sir Richard Branson led the morning hike and spent time with participants throughout the Summit.
    • At the evening luminary Q&A, Brock Pierce, asked by Sol Rashidi how he generates so many ideas, answered: "I live 7 years in the future."

    Also on the program: Daniel Shakhani, Sol Rashidi

    Photos

    Summit participants raise their arms in a group photo on the lawn with the sea behind them, March 2025Two participants embrace in greeting in the Great HouseParticipants gather and talk in the Great HouseParticipants stand together on a terrace overlooking the seaThree participants smile for a photo by the waterParticipants seated in the Great House during a sessionTwo people seated on stage with microphones during an evening Q&AParticipants watch an evening Q&A on the terraceTwo people in conversation on stage at an evening session outdoorsDinner tables set under string lights at nightParticipants at a candlelit dinnerParticipants dine together at long tables in the evening

    In their words

    "As amazing as the venue is, what made the event so incredible, were the leaders who joined, capitalists advancing capitalism."
    Alexander McCobin, Co-host, on LinkedIn
    "I am truly honoured to be co-hosting the 2025 Necker Summit alongside my dear friend Alexander McCobin, bringing together an extraordinary group of senior executives, thought leaders, and change agents."
    Daniel Shakhani, Founder, Abraham House, co-host, on LinkedIn

    Sources