The title of Crooke’s speech is “A Mandala for the 21st Century.” Mandala is the Sanskrit term signifying a classical Buddhist graphic: a circle enclosing a square that represents wholeness—both material and non-material realities—and a pattern found in multiple religious traditions.
Now an independent consultant to high-growth enterprises, Crooke headed Patagonia and its parent company form 1999 to 2005. He went on to become CEO of Revolution Living and delivered the 2006 Chung-Watson Lecture at HSU, titled “The Revolution of Business in the 21st Century.”
Revolution Living predicates financial success on good corporate citizenship and environmental responsibility. Crooke is an advocate of what he calls “doing well and doing good” and is credited internationally with Patagonia’s commitment to high quality products and sound environmental stewardship.
Prior to leading Patagonia, Crooke was CEO/Chairman of Pearl Izumi, considered a premier manufacturer of cycling and performance apparel, based in Colorado. Currently he serves as a director of non-profit boards, including Earth Day Network, founded by Denis Hayes, the co-originator of Earth Day.
Crooke is scheduled to receive his Ph.D. in management from Claremont Graduate University this month. His dissertation examines the role of values in high performance organizations. Crooke holds a B.S. in Forestry and an MBA from Humboldt State. In the late 1970’s, he was a Navy SEAL.