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Dockers Challenger Found Among Forbes Under 30 Candidates: Simon Straetker Shows To Change The World, You Don’t Need A Suit

Dockers

At the beginning of December 2019, Dockers® partnered with the Forbes Under 30 Summit Europe. What better city to host such an event than Berlin, 30 years after the fall of the wall, in a city celebrating the spirit of freedom and the will to be your best self. Dockers® took the opportunity of the event at the center of international entrepreneurship to reinforce the #DockersChallengers initiative — an innovative platform introducing a selection of international, self-made, game-changing entrepreneurs challenging the status quo. The partnership created a dynamic collaboration in search of the next #DockersChallengers. After exciting pitches by four inspiring individuals, Simon Straetker was able to convince the Under 30 audience with his Black Forest Collective.

During the Forbes Under 30 Summit, more than 1,000 of the region’s most influential young business leaders and changemakers joined forces to learn, network and collaborate. Participants came from various fields: social impact, healthcare, arts, and media. Throughout the three-day conference, Dockers® invited guests to panel discussions to find out more about #DockersChallengers, as well as to partake in the #DockersChallengers pitch.

One of the current #DockersChallengers, Jeff Kirschner (Founder of Litterati), was invited as a leading panelist, discussing ‘The Future of Smart Cities’. Prior to declaring the next upcoming #DockersChallengers, he divulged into what city life might look like in the next 30 years together with Reza Merchant (Founder & CEO of The Collective) and Vere Shaba (CEO of Greendesign Africa).

THE NEXT GENERATION OF #DOCKERSCHALLENGERS

Armed with the aim to find the next #DockersChallengers, Dockers® invited the Forbes under 30 nominees to pitch their distinctive projects. Out of a number of impressive applications, the four below were selected to present their ideas to the Forbes audience, making it clear that to change the world, #YouDontNeedASuit:

  • Anton Hakanson (Sweden): founder of DayCape, an initiative for children with autism
  • Lea Vajnorsky (Germany): co-founder of Wo\men Inc, an international organization bringing uniting career-minded women
  • Pascal Christiaens (Germany): founder of Volunteer World, an organization helping people create positive impact through meaningful travel opportunities
  • Simon Straetker (Germany): adventurer, eco-activist, and co-founder of Black Forest Collective, a storytelling brand with projects inspiring a culture of respect and sustainability for our planet through stories of wild places in Europe

For the first time, Dockers® wasn’t selecting the #DockersChallengers—the decision was in the hands of the Under 30 audience.

Simon Straetker, Welcome To #DockersChallengers

The choice wasn’t easy but, in the end, Simon Straetker won the battle. The innovative, young entrepreneur is the idyllic challenger: a talented, driven innovator who never stops pursuing original and stimulating challenges in pursuit of making an impact on the world.

Simon is a passionate filmmaker, globetrotter and environmental ambassador, producing inspiring short films about the most remote corners of the world. Known for his incredible photography of extreme adventures, wild animals and breathtaking landscapes, his work focuses on one question: how do we get people to fall in love with nature again? His answer came as the co-founder of the Black Forest Collective. His next project Wild Europe, the story of wild places all over the planet, is set to launch Spring 2020. Through their art, Simon and his team inspire a culture of respect and sustainability for our remarkable planet.

Dockers® warmly welcomes Simon Straetker to the #DockersChallengers platform, a partnership that we will change the world in majestic entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit.

#DockersChallengers #DockersAlwaysOn #YouDontNeedASuit