Why Daymond John Says Leaving Your Kids Money Makes Them Poor

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

Forget the mansions and trust funds. Daymond John—the People’s Shark—says he’s not leaving his daughters a dime. In an age where “generational wealth” is often the buzzword of success, Daymond is preaching a harder truth: Legacy is earned, not inherited. In a wide-ranging interview on the Real Leaders Podcast, he breaks down what real wealth looks like, and why it’s measured not in dollars, but in discipline, intention, and impact.

1. The Myth of Leaving It All Behind
“I’m not leaving my children anything,” Daymond says. “You give them everything in the world, you make them the poorest people in the world.” His philosophy is simple: when children grow up with too much comfort, they miss the lessons that come from struggle. Daymond, who built FUBU from nothing, wants his kids to inherit a mindset, not a bank account. His legacy isn’t about material handouts—it’s about creating people of value who understand what it takes to build.

2. The Power of Daily Intentionality
Every morning and every night, Daymond reads his goals. Ten of them, six short-term and four long-term, spanning up to 20 years into the future. “That’s the last thing I think about when I go to sleep,” he says. This routine isn’t just motivational fluff—it’s the foundation of his discipline. “If I can make it, anybody can make it,” he insists. From a self-proclaimed C-student who repeated 7th grade to a business mogul, his consistency is proof that intentionality compounds into impact.

3. Work-Life Harmony, Not Balance
“There’s work-life harmony, not work-life balance,” he explains. Daymond rejects the myth of perfect balance and instead promotes “stealing time” for what matters most. Whether it’s walking on the beach, Peppa Pig tea time with his daughters, or watching a show with his wife, he schedules these moments with as much care as business meetings. “Those things collect over the year, and you realize you stole a hundred, two hundred different times away with those that you love.”

4. True Leadership is Service
Daymond sees leadership not as a hierarchy, but as service. “If you serve from a genuine place, people want to fight for you,” he says. That sincerity drives loyalty and scale. “The only way to grow is to replicate yourself. If you don’t empower others, they’ll leave or become your competition.” Leadership, in his words, is about being human, being vulnerable, and being generous—even if it’s as small as making a phone call or saying hello.

5. The Real Legacy: Discipline, Not Dollars
Daymond isn’t interested in producing entitled heirs; he wants to raise leaders. “What’s important to me is longevity,” he says. His drive isn’t about accolades or comfort—it’s about walking his daughters down the aisle, seeing his grandkids grow up, and ensuring the next generation carries forward a standard, not a sum. “That carpet doesn’t give a shit about anything else,” he says of opportunity, “it just wants to know you’re going to wake up before everybody and go to sleep after everybody.”


Want more real talk from real leaders? Follow us for interviews that dig deeper than the headlines—because the future deserves more than surface-level success.

Q&A with Beko CEO Hakan Bulgurlu

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

Beko ranked No. 1 on the 2025 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies list for brightening homes with green solutions and heartfelt care.


A global leader in home appliances, Beko offers a portfolio of 22 brands and 55,000 employees worldwide with expected sales of more than $11.9 billion. With subsidiaries in 58 countries and 46 production facilities in 14 countries, it strives to be a responsible partner to the industry, regulators, and, most importantly, consumers, seeking to raise standards, address efficiency, and drive innovation in the service of the planet and people. Here, Beko CEO Hakan Bulgurlu shares his knowledge and experience with Real Leaders.




Real Leaders: How do you thrive in the impact space?

Hakan Bulgurlu: It’s all about achieving sustainable goals without sacrificing economic value. Sustainability is no longer a whim or a luxury. The real business players know that and are quickly trying to close the gap between their impact and their ambitions. We embrace sustainability as a business model and inspire sustainable lives throughout our value chain. 


RL: What milestones have you achieved this year?

Bulgurlu: We completed a significant transaction with Whirlpool and launched Beko Europe, joining Whirlpool’s European major domestic appliance business and Beko’s major domestic appliance, consumer electronics, air conditioning, and small domestic appliance businesses into a newly formed European appliance company. We acquired full ownership of Whirlpool’s Middle East and North Africa operations. We have also celebrated the official opening of our first manufacturing hub in Egypt. Beko Industrial Park is an over $110-million investment and will diversify Beko’s product offerings and strengthen its market presence. 


RL: What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?

Bulgurlu: We are currently facing maximum headwinds; weak demand has led to a contraction for the third year in a row in our industry. Still, in this environment, we have managed to maintain our growth.


RL: What is your best strategy for finding investors?

Bulgurlu: Showcasing a solid track record of joining forces with companies via strategic partnerships and joint ventures enhances investor confidence. A laser focus on innovation and sustainability resonates well with potential investors.


RL: What is your long-term, mission-oriented dream?

Bulgurlu: Our purpose is to advance sustainability in an otherwise slow-to-change industry, to decarbonize as fast as possible, and to inspire others to learn how to survive with nature and take action along the way. I believe leaders should be on the right side of history.


RL: What is your best advice for fellow impact CEOs?

Bulgurlu: I strongly advocate that anyone in the business world should embrace a responsible business mindset and prioritize building resilience. In today’s landscape, a CEO’s ability to infuse purpose into their organization and lead by example is paramount.

 

Q&A with Salas O’Brien CEO Darin Anderson

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

Salas O’Brien ranked No. 2 on the 2025 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies list in recognition for engineering a better built environment.

Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. It operates at the center of important global issues, including sustainability, energy efficiency, resilience, and decarbonization, helping clients in critical markets achieve operational goals while advancing team members through growth and opportunity. Here, Salas O’Brien CEO Darin Anderson shares his knowledge and experience with Real Leaders.

Real Leaders: How do you thrive in the impact space?

Darin Anderson: In a competitive market, finding and keeping top talent is essential, so we make sure our team members are rewarded well and equitably for their contributions and have no limits to their professional growth or rewards. Employee ownership is open to everyone, and it’s truly been a game-changer. Our people don’t just act like owners — they are owners.

RL: What milestones have you achieved this year?

Anderson: At the start of 2024, we announced a strategic minority investment from Blackstone, providing us with the resources to amplify our impact while remaining super majority employee-owned. We also broke into the top 50 of Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, we achieved an exceptional +50 eNPS score, 250% three-year revenue growth, and 99% leadership retention over 15 years. 

RL: What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?

Anderson: Filling the pipeline of talent required to deliver on the demand for our services — both the sheer number of professionals and the level of technical expertise needed — continues to be a big challenge for us and our industry peers. Through Q3 2024 we’ve hired over 400 team members, which is nearly 10% of our entire team member base. We streamlined our candidate sourcing processes, and this is helping us reach a greater range of military and early career individuals through programs like Hiring our Heroes, The Honor Foundation, and relationships with historically Black colleges and universities with strong engineering and technical programs. 

RL: What is your best strategy for finding investors?

Anderson: We seek out like-minded partners who share our values and vision for success. I always ask three questions: Are they a healthy, vibrant, and strong organization? Do their leaders care, and are they in this for the long run? Are we stronger and better together? My goal is to make sure we have the healthiest environment possible for our team members and that we’re delivering meaningful projects that support our clients’ goals. If there isn’t alignment, we move on.

RL: What is your long-term, mission-oriented dream?

Anderson: Our long-term vision is to be a model organization for the world — transparent, vibrant, nimble, and accountable. We aim to create an equitable environment with no limits for anyone to achieve success, while creating a better future through our work, ensuring hospitals have reliable power, improving food quality in pharmaceutical production, and finding ways to preserve our precious resources.

RL: What is your best advice for fellow impact CEOs?

Anderson: Be clear on what success looks for you and your organization, take care of the people around you, share the rewards equitably, and surround yourself with great people and partners in life.

Let There Be Light: Spotlight on Solar Sister

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

Solar Sister fights energy poverty across sub-Saharan Africa by recruiting, training, and supporting women entrepreneurs to create clean energy distribution businesses. It all started when Katherine Lucey, a former American investment banker, encountered Rebecca, a Ugandan farmer. Rebecca was using a solar lamp to illuminate her chicken coop, leading to increased egg production. As her sales grew, Rebecca built a profitable farm, elevated her family’s living conditions, and established a school for the community. If one woman could make such an impact with a solar panel, Lucey wondered what the scalable impact could be for a whole network of women. 


Lucey met Neha Misra, an Indian energy economist who witnessed the ripple effect of female-led solar energy initiatives in India. Together, they laid the groundwork for a social enterprise that empowers local women to distribute clean energy solutions via affordable, small solar lamps, home systems, and clean cookstoves in remote communities. Solar Sister was founded in 2009. After initiating a pilot program in Uganda, it expanded into Tanzania and then Nigeria. In 2022, Solar Sister merged with Livelihoods Kenya and expanded into Kenya. By 2024, the organization reached over 10,000 entrepreneurs and more than 4.5 million people with clean energy, mitigating 1.5 million-plus tons of carbon dioxide. It has about 125 full-time employees.

“It’s not just about numbers; it’s a story of resilience and empowerment in regions scarred by conflict and challenges,” says Solar Sister communications manager Joanna B. Pinneo. “Solar Sister’s unique model has been implemented in war-torn areas and has supported women from all backgrounds, from people with disabilities to internally displaced persons and refugees.”


Solar Sister provides its entrepreneurs with a startup toolkit, 12 months of core training, and monthly mentoring meetings. Those who complete the advanced training curriculum are given access to a revolving zero-interest-rate credit mechanism where they can purchase solar products through a 30-day loan of up to $200. Advanced entrepreneurs receive additional marketing materials and IDs.


“We continuously support women to ensure that they can overcome seasonal challenges and feel connected to their Solar Sister family,” Pinneo shares. “The secret behind Solar Sister’s model is that our support is ongoing, and we offer continued chances for Solar Sister entrepreneurs to progress and grow.”

Through the sale of over 980,000 clean energy products, including 62,000-plus cookstoves, Solar Sister entrepreneurs have illuminated homes and significantly reduced indoor air pollution, which in turn reduces the risk of illness and premature death. Lack of energy is a daunting reality for what is approaching a billion people across the African continent who lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, according to the World Health Organization. Many are also still living in the dark, as over 40% of the population still lacks access to energy, the WHO reports. Access to energy has multi-dimensional impacts on education, health, community resilience, climate resilience and adaptability, income generation, and improved livelihoods.



Solar Sister identified its target customers as women making daily miles-long walks into town to fill up a soda bottle with kerosene and return home to pour it into their lamps. Spending up to 20 hours a week collecting fuel for energy use prevents women from participating in income-generating activities. Plus, young girls are often removed from school for firewood collection. With all that in mind, Solar Sister identified its target entrepreneurs as women.

“We have found that the decision to include women was brilliant and that the women are fantastic salespeople,” founder and CEO Lucey says. “I’d say they go beyond being just agents, entrepreneurs, or salespeople. They are evangelical about bringing clean energy to communities. They know themselves what it means to have light. They know themselves what it means to cook on a stove to reduce the amount of smoke inhalation in their homes.”  



Because the women know it personally, they reach out to their families, friends, and neighbors and distribute these products with an authentic understanding of the benefits. 

“So rather than coming in and saying, ‘We have this panel with this many specs and all that, they come in they talk about, my son is No. 1 in school this year, and the reason is that he’s able to study at night,’” Lucey shares. “The other women want that as well for their children.” 

Tip of the Iceberg: Southeastern Grocers and Relocalize Partnership

Posted on by Grant Schreiber


Southeastern Grocers (SEG) and Relocalize partnered to pilot ice manufacturing in the world’s first autonomous micro-factory, which was recognized by Real Leaders with an Impact Award for Best Collaboration. The partnership helps eliminate middle-mile logistics and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and plastic pollution.


Southeastern Grocers is an omnichannel retailer and one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. with brands like Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets. This innovative and automated manufacturing process empowers the grocer to scale production and create waste-reduction solutions through the full lifecycle of the product.

“Our collaboration with Relocalize has allowed us to push the boundaries on what’s possible in our industry,” Dewayne Rabon, chief merchandising officer for Southeastern Grocers, tells Real Leaders. “By pioneering this revolutionary approach to ice production with the world’s first AI-powered micro-factory, we’ve enhanced the quality of our products and significantly reduced waste and carbon emissions.”

Here’s how it works: Relocalize sells automated food production platforms as a service (PaaS) to grocery and convenience retailers. These micro-factories (RELOs) are located at retailer distribution and fulfillment centers, where they produce CPG products on-demand for 100–200 retail stores. Each RELO performs all the processes of a traditional factory (e.g., production, processing, material handling, packaging, palletizing, inventory management, food safety) at about 1/20th scale. By eliminating middle-mile transportation and 100% of production labor with robotics, the retailer is supplied with fresher products at a much lower environmental and economic cost. Relocalize says its goal is to disrupt the $1+ trillion ice and beverage CPG category by hyper-localizing production to eliminate transportation CO2 and waste. 



“We set out on a mission to decarbonize food supply chains,” says Wayne McIntyre, CEO and co-founder of Relocalize. “Fully autonomous, hyper-local food manufacturing is now a reality. This ice microfactory represents a fundamental shift in how packaged food is produced and distributed, ushering in the era of the one-step food journey from production to consumption.”

Through the partnership, SEG has introduced Party Cubes, which the duo says is the world’s first hyper-local, certified plastic-negative, packaged ice produced on-demand. The partners say this super-premium cubed ice stores better and costs less for consumers compared to traditional bagged ice, and the smaller, leak-proof packaging is 100% recycle-ready. For every one pound of plastic used in packaging, Relocalize will remove and recycle two pounds of ocean plastic. The process produces zero water waste (compared to 50% normally) and reduces trucking carbon dioxide emissions by 90%.

Highlights of the SEG-Relocalize Partnership

  • 100% of production labor is self-contained to the microfactory at one of SEG’s distribution centers in Jacksonville, Florida.
  •   Packaging is 100% recycle-ready and plastic-negative.
  •   Relocalize removes 2 pounds of ocean plastic for each pound of plastic used.
  •   Ice quality is improved and costs are reduced compared to traditional bagged ice.
  •   It produces zero water waste and reduces trucking CO2 emissions by 90%.

Spring 2025 Gifts for Good

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

Warmer days and April showers are just around the corner. Get ready for Spring with these refreshing, sustainable products.

Repairable at Home: Perfectly Blunt Rain Gear

Blunt, a Certified B Corp, is committed to durability and prioritizing repair over replacement by designing products to withstand the test of time and the harshest weather. Each Blunt umbrella is hand-stitched with patented tips that evenly distribute tension across the canopy, ensuring strength and reliability in any storm. With a vision to reduce waste going to landfills, the umbrellas are modular for easy repair and maintenance. Umbrella repairs take place in multiple workshops around the globe, but Blunt encourages and assists customers in doing any needed repairs at home. The Metro is pictured in Lemon & Honey.




From Recycled Plastic: Ecosexy Sandals

Insekta, Brazil’s first B-Certified footwear brand, transforms vintage clothing and recycled plastic bottles into stylish shoes. The featured sandals showcase handcrafted honeycomb-shaped insoles and synthetic fabric, predominantly sourced from renewable materials. The Apis sandal is shown.




Save Your Eyes, Save a Tree: Less Breakable Sunglasses

Ombraz sunglasses reinvent the classic design by swapping traditional arms for durable Japanese nylon cords, crafted from recycled fishing nets, ensuring they stay securely in place and are less prone to breaking. With each pair sold, 20 Mangrove trees are planted, supporting environmental restoration. The company’s long-term vision is to make its products 100% recycled and biodegradable, while powering all its workshops with solar and wind energy. Here is the Classic style in a tortoise frame with polarized brown lenses.




Urban Freedom: Folding Bike 

London-based B Corp Brompton makes bikes that fold up to a third of its size, available in standard or electric models. Stored easily in the trunk of your car, the 24-pound bike (30-pound electric) is perfect for commuting on trains or taking a turn around the city. The company says it takes 6.8 fewer tons of carbon to make a Brompton bike than to make a car, and 42 folded bikes can be parked in a single car parking space. The A Line is pictured.




Crafted by Women Artisans: Towel with Hidden Pocket

Worker-owned and managed, Swahili Coast creates lasting economic opportunities in East Africa by crafting handmade items, such as jewelry and sandals, from natural materials. The company’s mission is to provide fair wages and safe working conditions for women artisans. This Kenyan beach towel is made from 100% cotton Kikoy cloth and quick-dry microfiber terry — is ideal for sunny days and even includes a hidden Velcro pocket for your phone or keys.  

Building Homes — and Lives: SDS Capital Group

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

The $190-million Supportive Housing Fund delivers high-quality housing to homeless Californians as well as on-site case management and health services.

By Hannah Blume

Deborah La Franchi, CEO and founder of SDS Capital Group (a Real Leaders Top Impact Company), is a pioneer in the field of impact investing. For the past 20 years, La Franchi’s firm has made a name for itself by focusing on underserved communities across the United States, with a specific goal to address the deep challenges of poverty and inequality.

“I wanted to start my own company and create a platform of these impact funds in different geographies of the country and with different investment strategies, but all of them focused on investing in the poorest communities of the United States,” La Franchi explains.



SDS Capital Group has launched numerous impact funds dedicated to empowering disadvantaged populations, ranging from affordable housing projects to subsidizing small business lenders. These funds are designed to have a broad impact across essential areas like education, healthcare, and nonprofit services.

La Franchi’s vision for impact investing is deeply rooted in her personal experience. Growing up in California, she saw firsthand the challenges posed by poverty and knew as early as high school that she wanted to dedicate her life to finding solutions to these systemic issues. As CEO of SDS Capital Group, La Franchi has focused on tackling one of the state’s most pressing problems: the housing crisis.

California faces a significant shortage of affordable housing, which has led to high levels of homelessness. To help combat this issue, SDS Capital Group created the Supportive Housing Fund (SHF), a $190 million initiative aimed at financing high-quality and cost-effective housing for homeless Californians. Its focus lies in creating permanent supportive housing by not only providing shelter, but also serving as a catalyst for community revitalization. These apartments provide tenants with on-site case management support to rebuild their lives as well as healthy food options and health services.

SDS Capital Group finances its projects through private-sector equity, eliminating the need for taxpayer dollars. This allows SDS to deliver affordable housing units quickly and efficiently without getting bogged down by bureaucratic red tape. SHF is expected to finance over 1,800 units across California, making significant progress in combatting the state’s housing shortage.

The journey to building a successful impact investment firm has not been without its challenges. When La Franchi first started SDS Capital Group, she miscalculated the size and enthusiasm of the impact investor community. While there were federal regulations that required certain investors to direct funds toward low-income communities, investors who were not bound by these regulations displayed little interest in such opportunities, even when shown the financial returns alongside the social impact.

SDS realized that to attract investors, it wasn’t enough to simply offer competitive returns — they also needed to understand the broader value of impact investing. Investing in affordable housing offers diversification benefits to an investor’s portfolio while also contributing to long-term economic stability in distressed communities. “They have to believe that the investment makes sense,” La Franchi says.



She says SDS Capital Group has built its success on a few key operational principles:


1. Document everything. One of these is ensuring that every procedure is documented in its software. Though tedious, having well-institutionalized processes ensures continuity and consistency across the organization, making the onboarding process of new employees much smoother. 


2. Implement the latest cybersecurity tools. The firm is committed to cybersecurity, even if that means outsourcing to experts in the field to keep wire transfers and other sensitive information protected.


3. Get the right people in the right seats. It’s tempting to hold on to an employee in the hopes of them eventually growing into a role, but not everyone is going to be the right fit for your organization. Making timely decisions about employees can have a profound impact on the overall success of the company, La Franchi says.


SDS Capital Group is not just working to generate financial returns for its investors, but to ensure that these returns contribute to creating sustainable, positive change for those who need it most. 


“A real leader is someone who not only has the vision but has also thought through the execution of the vision to ensure that they can communicate it to the stakeholders that are needed,” she says. 


Switching It Up with Deako

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

A smart lighting technology innovator finds a more efficient way to illuminate homes.

By Hannah Blum


When Derek Richardson manually replaced the light switches in his home, he found the process extremely difficult and even dangerous at times. Between the hassle of stripping wires and navigating circuit breakers, there’s plenty of room for human error, especially for inexperienced homeowners. There is also the issue of time spent on such a project, which can take up to 45 minutes to an hour per light switch. Richardson found himself sacrificing three to four hours per weekend for six weekends changing out 40 light switches in his home and thought there must be a more efficient way to do this.

This experience sparked the idea behind Deako, a company Richardson founded to revolutionize how we interact with light switches.



Deako is focused on simplifying this process for homeowners, and it works alongside home builders to do so. In lieu of a typical light switch, these builders install the Deako backplate into their homes, which is wired into a standard junction box like any other light switch. It is then typically equipped with a Simple Rocker light switch before the screwless faceplate is snapped in place. From there, customers can choose from an array of switches, ranging from Smart Dimmers to Simple Motion Sensor Switches, and easily pop off the faceplate to change the switch.

This innovation is designed for everyone. Firstly, it decreases the time it takes to replace the light switch. It also eliminates the chances of an inexperienced homeowner shocking themselves and cuts the cost of having to call an electrician for backup. The flexibility behind Deako’s plug-n-play switches makes it easier for homeowners to adapt their homes to their everyday needs and make upgrades at their own pace without requiring rewiring or professional installation. Deako switches are also certified by the Underwriters Laboratories and Electrical Testing Laboratories.

Deako was founded almost 10 years ago, and like most companies, it didn’t happen overnight. “In any venture, you don’t just lace up your sneakers and start playing in the NBA. You work your way up,” says Richardson, who is also CEO of the company.

To streamline its idea, Deako began receiving feedback from a few locals who first put the switches in their homes. This response then started coming from a group of small home builders installing the switches and gradually made its way up to builders who construct 100,000 homes a year. Deako continues listening to the homeowners too, and one of its newest additions are smart switches that connect to a smart home assistant for even more accessibility options.

Deako believes in the power of listening to all of its employees and customers. “Probably the biggest pivoted change that we had came from a customer in an off-the-cuff comment that they made,” Richardson notes. “The best ideas have to win — not be based around company hierarchy.” This approach has been pivotal in ensuring that Deako stays innovative and meets homeowners’ evolving needs. 

The company has collaborated with Google Home, secured deals with homebuilders across the country, and entered into several key partnerships as it has successfully scaled up, acquiring 10 U.S. patents and trademark acknowledgements along the way. Most recently, in September 2024, it announced the debut of a Simple Ventilation Timer to improve air quality in single- and multi-family homes with enhanced energy efficiency, assisting builders in meeting certain ventilation codes and allowing them to earn ENERGY STAR® points for improved exhaust ventilation. 


Deako continues to expand its horizons, branching out to other ventures like outlets that match the design of its switches to customizable faceplates and backplates to reflect anyone’s personality. It’s important to continue adapting to the needs of its customer, sharing ideas, and giving credit where credit’s due for everyone involved. Today, there are about 10,000 homes a month installing Deako light switches, and the continued line of communication between company and customer is responsible for this growth.


“A real leader is thinking about the success of the whole over the success of themself,” Richardson says. Deako’s journey highlights that, with the right mindset, even something as simple as a light switch can be revolutionary.


Hannah Blume is a contributing writer to Real Leaders.

Printing with Purpose

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

By Real Leaders

Printing industry innovations include recycling, composting, and educating consumers on responsible disposal.

S-One Holdings Corp. is a global company with subsidiaries and brands that develop and sell printing and graphics products. The 30-year-old business has been incorporating sustainability across its companies and business practices to reduce its environmental footprint, designing and producing environmentally conscious printing products manufactured, used, and recovered in a way that embraces a circular economy.

“We are dedicated to developing solutions that make the printing industry around the globe more environmentally conscious,” Co-Founder Art Lambert says. “Being sustainable is part of who we are and how we help make our communities cleaner and healthier.”

(Ron Simkins Left ; Art Lambert Right)


S-One offers over 100 eco-friendly products and has implemented several initiatives to help green the printing industry, including:


For HP, subsidiary BMG developed a satin canvas for large-format printing materials with recycled bottles and coating materials; recycled bond paper; PVC-free banner material that does not contain chlorine or phthalates; and recycled removable adhesive fabric.


Subsidiary LexJet’s ink cartridge recycling program has returned over two tons of cartridges from across the U.S. since 2021.




S-One Labels and Packaging created a sustainability resource guide to educate customers on environmental requirements, responsible disposal of packaging, and incorporating sustainable features in package design.




Its ReEarth bio-based films are made with raw materials that quickly compost, some of which can go into a countertop composter with food scraps to become usable soil.



ReTreve, a family of flexible packaging films, meets guidelines for store drop-off through programs for recycling into new bags or composite decking.


Subsidiary WallBottle.com makes wall décor and custom photo printing with sustainability in mind. Images are printed with environmentally certified inks on canvases made from recycled bottles and mounted on wooden frames sourced from sustainably managed forests. For every canvas purchased, WallBottle donates a portion of the sale to the World Wildlife Fund for environmental preservation and animal conservation.


Part of the United Nations Global Compact initiative, S-One continues to develop sustainable solutions in the evolving technology landscape. Through these efforts, the Sarasota, Florida-based company spreads awareness and social impact on making communities around the globe cleaner and healthier today and for future generations.

Mighty Homes

Posted on by Grant Schreiber

By Real Leaders

These 3D-printed houses are better for the environment, more affordable, and faster to build.


The construction industry is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases into the environment and it’s responsible for 37% of global emissions, the United Nations reports in 2024. To help combat this, Mighty Buildings is using cutting-edge 3D printing technology to make sustainable, safe homes at lower costs.

CEO Scott Gebicke understands the difficulties of breaking into the construction industry and how crucial it is that Mighty Buildings succeeds in today’s global climate and housing crises. “To me, coming to Mighty Buildings is about passion — passion for having an impact, not only on a company but on the world,” he says. 

Emboldened by a patented 3D printer and proprietary materials, Mighty Buildings uses material science and robotics to expedite home building while ensuring sustainability and efficacy. In two-and-a-half days, it can create a 1,200-square-foot house shell; in eight days, a 3,300-square-foot home shell. The California-based company has constructed two developments in the state with a combined total of 50 homes, some of them capable of net-zero energy consumption. 

What started as a materials science company evolved to make accessory dwelling units, and in its latest iteration, to bring modular, scalable homes to developers. The printer uses LUMUS material created by Mighty Buildings to make the walls and panels, which are resistant to earthquakes, hurricanes, water, mold, mildew, and insects thanks to a specialized robotic coating application. It also weighs 30% less than concrete and has five times more tensile and flexural strength. In addition to its practical advantages, the LUMUS material comes in different colors and exterior textures. Mighty Buildings worked with architectural firms EYRC and JZMK to create ready-made designs catering to a simplistic style that maximizes storage and sustainable energy. 

From soundproof walls to solar power, Gebicke describes it as an extremely resilient product. “In certain markets like California, Arizona, Florida, and the Caribbean — places where climate change has caused more intense weather — this product is extremely well-suited,” Gebicke notes. 

In many parts of the country, America’s infrastructure has already reached the end of its life, worsened by weather events that weaken it further. These new materials withstand up to 180 miles per hour wind resistance and can have a positive influence on how to prepare for inevitable weather events.

Gebicke says he bases his leadership style around empowerment, a core belief formed while serving in the U.S. Navy. “Thought partnership, empowerment, and transparency are the three qualities of a real leader,” he explains. “If you’re not transparent, it creates so much confusion.” The company’s current focus is on expansion. By 2028, Mighty Buildings aims to produce fully carbon-neutral houses. 



Catch our full conversation with Mighty Buildings’ Scott Gebicke on the Real Leaders Podcast.

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