World Forestry Center’s newest Board Member is Adam Day, a multidisciplinary, global executive whose career has taken him to more than two dozen countries. Adam’s 20 years of experience at leading global brands, such as Nike and WeWork, have focused on strategic planning, leadership development, and research and development. His latest endeavor is Mikata Garage, a leadership coaching and advisory practice he founded here in Portland, OR.
What inspired you to join World Forestry Center’s board?
Tackling climate change means reconciling how we use and enjoy forests in new ways. I think World Forestry Center is ideally positioned to help bridge the gaps among stakeholders and inspire new solutions. The new vision and strategy of World Forestry Center was compelling to me, and it felt like I could add value at this moment in the journey.
How do you think your background will inform this role?
I have worked across many industries and love tackling ‘system’ challenges. I don’t have a deep background in forestry, but bring expertise in strategy, design, influencing, and prototyping…. My work has always been focused on the innovation that’s possible by working at intersections. World Forestry Center embodies that ethos—a place to gather, intersect and inspire diverse stakeholders to rethink our relationship to forests and the forestry sector.
What connects you to World Forestry Center’s work?
Like many, I’ve experienced the escalating challenges we’ve had in the Pacific Northwest with climate change and our forests. It’s now persistent and personal. This summer, my family and I were rafting on the North Umpqua River in Oregon and were caught in a severe wildfire smoke inversion, quickly going from a nice day to it being difficult to breath or see. More broadly, I have lived and worked all around the world, and seen the dynamics of forestry management, especially in Southeast Asia. The global scope of the Center and its potential impact resonate with me.
Do you have a personal connection to forests?
I grew up in a small town in Maine, in and around the woods. I was always hiking, fishing, and canoeing. I loved the wilderness. My first job after college was as a newspaper reporter in Maine, which included covering the forestry sector.
What’s something people might not know about you?
When I was 19, I dropped out of college and sailed across the Pacific Ocean!