“The plain truth is that capitalism needs to evolve if humanity is going to survive.”
-Rose Marcario
Responsible Business Leader & Environmentalist
Rose Marcario is a globally recognized business leader focused on climate solutions, and advancing responsible capitalism.
As President and CEO of Patagonia, Rose led over a decade-long period of profitable growth to well over $1B in sales while deepening the company’s commitment to environmental activism, regenerative agriculture, and innovative governance structures designed to keep the planet at the center of business decisions.
Under her leadership, Patagonia became widely recognized as a global model for responsible business and bold corporate advocacy on climate, public lands, and democracy. During her tenure, Patagonia expanded its support for grassroots environmental organizations and took strong public stands on issues ranging from public lands protection to fair labor and family‑friendly workplaces.
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Rose’s leadership in ethical, regenerative business has been honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change” for her support of working families and she received Columbia Business School’s Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics.
Under her leadership Patagonia received the United Nations “Champions of the Earth” award, and she has been awarded conservation honors including the prestigious Murie Spirit of Conservation Award and the Stewart Udall Award from the Conservation Lands Foundation.​
She has been featured on lists such as Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women in Business,” Fast Company’s “Most Creative People” and she topped the inaugural 2020 Fast Company’s Queer 50 list, of women and nonbinary business innovators in business and tech, and other rankings that highlight her role in redefining the purpose of business around climate action and social responsibility.
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Her work centers on building a better world through regenerative systems in food, energy, and mobility. At Patagonia, she co‑founded Patagonia Provisions, helped create the company’s first in‑house venture fund, and played a founding role in the development of Regenerative Organic Certification through the Regenerative Organic Alliance. She also conceived of and founded the bi partisan Time to Vote initiative.
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​Today, Rose is a partner at Onto Ventures, a venture fund investing in regenerative technologies and climate solutions, and she serves on the boards of and as an advisor to mission‑driven companies including Rivian, Row7 and REI, as well as nonprofits focused on biodiversity and regenerative ecosystems. She is a founding board member of The Society to Protect Underground Networks, and the founding Chair of the Rivian Foundation. She is a sought-after corporate and educational speaker to connect climate action, responsible supply chains and values led leadership with durable business performance.