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Derek Handley
Astronaut-in-Waiting, Virgin Galactic / Founding Partner at Aera VC
Professional Background
Derek Handley is a dynamic entrepreneur and visionary leader who has dedicated his career to tackling some of today’s most pressing societal and sustainability challenges. With a robust portfolio of experience that spans over two decades, he has established himself as an influential force in social innovation and entrepreneurial leadership. Derek's career is marked by a commitment to using creativity and unconventional thinking as tools to create meaningful impact. As the founding partner of Aera VC and the Aera Foundation, he is currently focused on investing in and supporting innovative entrepreneurs who are paving the way towards a sustainable future.
In addition to his work with Aera, Derek is an accomplished former CEO of The B Team, an initiative co-founded with renowned figures such as Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz. Under his leadership, The B Team emerged as a catalyst for bold dialogues and initiatives aimed at fostering a more equitable and environmentally-conscious economy. This leadership group consists of global visionaries and advocates who push the boundaries toward transforming the role of business in addressing global challenges. Derek’s role at The B Team was pivotal during the lead-up to the historic Paris Agreement, where the group actively encouraged the shift from a 2-degree to a more ambitious 1.5-degree climate target.
In response to the pandemic, Derek has kept the global conversation going through his online series titled “Wiser Conversations.” This unique platform brings together leading thinkers from various fields to explore the intersections of psychology and spirituality, reflecting his commitment to engaging with the deeper questions of existence and purpose.
Education and Achievements
Derek Handley's educational journey reflects a pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment to understanding the complexities of human nature and its relationship with society and the environment. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA) with a focus on Finance from Victoria University of Wellington, alongside a Bachelor of Building Science (BBSc), which encompassed Architecture and Environmental Science from the same institution. These early studies laid the foundation for his future work at the intersection of technology, innovation, and sustainability.
To further enhance his entrepreneurial acumen, Derek pursued further studies at prestigious institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he completed the Executive Entrepreneurship program at the Sloan School of Management. He also explored the broader implications of spirituality and social dynamics with a Master’s degree in Religion from Harvard University, along with executive programs at Singularity University.
Derek’s continuous pursuit of knowledge is further evidenced by his roles as an advisor, faculty member, and guest lecturer at various esteemed organizations, including The Wharton School and AUT University, serving as a platform for him to share his insights and experiences.
Notable Contributions and Impact
Derek Handley has made remarkable contributions to the fields of social innovation and entrepreneurship through his various roles. As the co-founder of The Hyperfactory, he played a crucial role in pioneering mobile marketing, positioning the company as a global leader and recognized innovator in its field, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Time Inc./Meredith Corporation. His entrepreneurial spirit also shines through his ventures at Human Ventures in New York, where he focused on building innovative startups that align with progressive ideals.
His visionary outlook extends beyond business; Derek has participated in various organizations dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders and social impact initiatives. Notably, his role on the Sustainability Advisory Panel at Air New Zealand reflects his commitment to integrating sustainable practices into corporate strategies. As a former member of the Board of Directors at Sky New Zealand and as the founding CEO of The B Team, Derek continues to influence the dialogue on sustainability and corporate responsibility.
Conclusion
Through his multifaceted career, Derek Handley epitomizes the role of a modern entrepreneur deeply committed to creating positive change in society. His insights, leadership, and innovative spirit continue to inspire others, particularly in the realms of sustainability and social entrepreneurship. His work exemplifies the potential each individual has to impact the world positively and contribute to the critical dialogues around sustainability and social responsibility. With an eye on the future and a heart committed to service, Derek Handley remains a pivotal player in shaping a more equitable and sustainable planet.
Highlights
7 Life Lessons I Learnt from Richard Branson
- Qualifications don't matter.
Richard left school at 15. He was dyslexic and never did well on his assignments.
But instead of letting that be an excuse for not making anything of himself, he carved his own path anyway.
- Be interested.
If you want to make a difference in the world, you have to actually care about something. Richard struggled to learn about things he wasn't interested in.
But when he found something he cared about, nothing could stop him from learning everything he could about it.
- Sink or swim.
Richard talks about how his mum used to drop him off on the side of the road and let him walk to grandma's house. Five miles away.
Although they're some of our toughest moments, when we've got no choice but to sink or swim, that's when we learn what we're made of.
- Question everything.
As Richard says, he loves to turn the status quo upside down. He sees life as one long learning process and wants to understand how everything works.
And that's the only way to come up with innovative ideas. You have to question what is so you can find a better way.
- Anyone can start an airline (or can they?!)
Richard never set out to start an airline. He just realised that flying wasn't a very nice experience. So he decided to do something about it.
And once he decided to create an airline of his own, he wasn't about to let anything stop him.
- The line between success and failure is razor-thin.
Even though they've been super successful, there have been many times where Richard thought Virgin Airlines was going to go under.
So, as an entrepreneur, you always have to be at the top of your game. Prepared for whatever challenges are inevitably going to come up.
- Sometimes you have to cash in your chips to make new bets.
Just like every business owner, Richard has had to make some really tough calls. And at one stage, he had to take a massive risk to save everyone's jobs.
It turned out to be the right move, but it cost him in the process. And that's just part of being that kind of person.
What we can learn from Richard is infinite
But in the end,
It always comes down t very simple things and his legacy speaks for itself.
It's not ok to say what you think anymore 🧠.
We head to the polls next month in New Zealand.
And it actually doesn't matter what "side" you're on.
Because whatever the issue is,
Things have gotten so polarised
That we no longer speak up.
More and more good, clever people I know
Are cancelling each other out.
Without sitting down for a cup of tea.
There's no courage in that.
Because if you really believe something
You should be strong enough to want a radically open dialogue about it.
And want to know everything about the other point of views.
Because you understand that it's a conversation
Not a personal attack.
Let's bring back the art of open mindedness.
And drop the fear of being wrong.
Where the goal isn't to know all the answers and 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.
But it's about being willing to listen and learn.
Because growth doesn't happen in an echo chamber.
So let's be brave enough to have those uncomfortable conversations
In the end,
We'll be stronger for it.
And so will our kids.
And so will our country. 💚
cc Principles: A Ray Dalio Company
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
- Comprehensive Contact Management: Automatically collects contact data and enriches profiles to keep them up-to-date
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
- Home Feed: Displays updates about your network including job changes, news mentions, and birthdays
- Groups: Organizes contacts into meaningful categories
- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Mesh is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
Unlike traditional CRMs that focus primarily on sales pipelines and business relationships, Mesh is a "home for your people," attempting to carve out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. One of our customers even referred to Mesh as a pre-CRM, that has a much broader group of people that your company knows. Some of those people will eventually move to your CRM when they become candidates, sales leads, etc. Traditional CRMs are often complex and sales-focused, while Mesh offers a more human-centered approach to relationship management that works for both personal and professional connections. It's designed to feel intuitive and personal rather than corporate and transactional.
Mesh takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Mesh encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Mesh work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Mesh is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Mesh is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Mesh is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Mesh offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Mesh offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Mesh for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Mesh accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Mesh offers extensive integration capabilities. Mesh introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Mesh supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Mesh also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Mesh makes it much easier to stay in touch with the people you care about. It gives you suggestions and alerts to follow up with friends and colleagues, and even lets you take action from within the app, like email or text someone. Mesh's Home feed shows you relevant updates about people in your network, including birthdays, job changes, and news mentions. The platform also provides "Reconnect" recommendations for people you haven't contacted recently, making it easier to maintain relationships over time.
Mesh is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Mesh stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Mesh excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Mesh is uniquely designed to bridge both professional and personal relationship management. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh helps you organize your contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. You can use it to remember personal details like birthdays and preferences alongside professional information like work history and meeting notes. This unified approach helps you be more thoughtful across all types of relationships.
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Mesh's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Mesh's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Mesh has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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