Townsend Solitaire - The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future

Solitaire Townsends passion for finding answers is as infectious as it is compelling. Her core argument is brilliantly argued: move over pessimists and naysayers; the future belongs to the Solutionists.

PAUL POLMAN, AUTHOR, CAMPAIGNER AND FORMER CEO, UNILEVER

The Solutionists is unusual among books on solving the worlds challenges: its easy to read, fun and optimistic. More importantly, its an invitation to join the game of fixing the world.

ANDREW WINSTON, SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIST AND AUTHOR OF NET POSITIVE

Solitaire Townsends unique perspective on the challenges we face enables understanding of how we can be involved in making urgent and necessary changes to the way we think about how live and work.

BARONESS YOUNG OF HORNSEY OBE

Its rare that I finish a book by thinking that everyone who cares about the future needs to read this. But I did this time. Solitaire Townsend, a gifted storyteller, has captured the essence of what it takes to tackle the seemingly impossibly broken parts of our world and to fix them with passion, impact and joy.

JOEL MAKOWER, CHAIRMAN AND CO-FOUNDER, GREENBIZ GROUP

Insights gained from the experts in The Solutionists will provide readers with fresh perspectives that hopefully spark even more innovative actions to help the planet.

TONI PETERSSON, CEO, OATLY

This is a must-read book and call to action for sustainable and solutions focused business innovation. Solutionists can lead us to a greener, more equitable and climate-optimism-fuelled future, and this is the guide to get us there.

LEAH THOMAS, AUTHOR OF THE INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST

For anyone beginning to despair that all is lost, this book comes as a wake-up call that solutions are not only desperately needed but are great business opportunities, and you might have some fun along the way. It serves not just as a call-to-arms, but also as a how-to guide for anyone whos got a solution that needs unleashing on the world.

HELEN CLARKSON, CEO, CLIMATE GROUP

Provides experience-based insights and concrete examples and guidance to help young business people become agents for change within their organizations.

TENSIE WHELAN, DIRECTOR, NYU STERN CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

The Solutionists is a good reminder that each of us is the solution. It is a breath of pragmatic optimism and inspiration. Best of all, Solitaire Townsend extends an open invitation to be a part of the greatest opportunity our generation has ever had: to tackle climate change together.

VAITEA COWAN, CO-FOUNDER, ENAPTER

We dont need another hero, we need a world of solutionists.

JON KHOO, HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY (EAAA), INTERFACE

This book should become a much-used reference in every business leader and changemakers library. Solitaire Townsends brilliant, uplifting prose reminds us that we can still rise and solve our existential challenges within our generation.

KARIMAH HUDDA, FOUNDER AND CHIEF CATALYST, ILLUMINE.EARTH

Solitaire Townsend lifts the weight of the many challenges we face with a new way of thinking about how we build a fairer and more sustainable world. This is the book and the motivation we need to build the world that we can all thrive in and be proud of.

ARON CRAMER, CEO, BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Courage and stamina are always essential, but so is the playfulness to think around corners. How joyous to find Solitaire Townsends irrepressible energy and creativity between the covers of this book.

JOHN ELKINGTON, FOUNDER AND CHIEF POLLINATOR, VOLANS, AND AUTHOR OF GREEN SWANS

If you enjoy saying things like 1.5C is out of reach, we might as well prepare for the apocalypse, beware reading this book; it might just encourage you to dare to hope. If youve already taken the first courageous step of daring to imagine a better world, youll have fun and take practical inspiration from every page!

NIGEL TOPPING, UN HIGH-LEVEL CLIMATE ACTION CHAMPION, COP26

We have a new name for those leading change for a better world Solutionists. Solitaire Townsend has set out clear guidance, tactics and advice for the millions more Solutionists we need.

ERIK SOLHEIM, GREEN POLITICIAN, DIPLOMAT AND SIXTH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UN ENVIRONMENT

Solitaire Townsend assembles a cast of Solutionists who combine vision, grit, flex, fun and soul to reimagine what it means to lead. Through their stories and her personal reflections, an inspiring blueprint for how to change the world takes shape.

AMANDA GARDINER, SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION AND ENGAGEMENT HEAD, META

To Futerra, the best bunch of Solutionists I know.

I am immensely grateful to everyone who gifted their time and insight to me in the form of interviews and surveys this book is about you! Special gratitude goes to Becca Warner for all of her help, and to Sarah Penrhyn-Jones and Mapem Lanigan of Futerra for filling in so many gaps. To Geraldine Collard for first commissioning this book and Matt James of Kogan Page for invaluable support as editor. Thank you to the entire Kogan Page team.

Many wonderful people helped me find and reach the interviewees in this book: Briar Goldberg, Corey Hajim and Nehemiah Rolle of TED, Tricia Thompson, Taylor Patterson and Rosie Fenning of The Earthshot Prize, Harriet Lamb and Fiona Duggan at Ashden, Laurie Lee of CARE International, Carolina Garcia Arbelaez of the 100+ Accelerator, Stephanie Klotz at Climate KIC, Jesus Chavez of Singularity Media and Cailin Wyatt, Alex Reid and Katie Rupp at Gates Ventures.

Chris Coulter of GlobeScan, Mark Lee of ERMs SustainAbility Institute and David Grayson of the Cranfield School of Management co-led the survey from which Ive quoted in this book and offered their friendship throughout. Immense gratitude to the Arctic Foxes for unfailing wisdom, joy and cheerleading. To Lucy Shea, Karen Brennan, Matt Sexton and all Futerrans for so many ideas in this book. And of course, to my lovely family for unfailing love and support at every step (plus reminders to stop, rest and follow my own advice). Finally, thank you to the millions of Solutionists everywhere, who inspire me every day.

• Solutionist noun

• solutionist | \ -sh()nst \

• Definition of Solutionist: a solver of problems

Solutionists are curious in both meanings of that word. They are curious about the world around them, often on a lifelong quest to discover new things and find new answers. They are also curious people in that they are somewhat odd.

I mean that in the most complimentary way, not least because I count myself among the ranks of the Solutionists. Nevertheless, I admit that being the sort of person who likes untangling knots, who is kept awake by unsolved problems and who has a strong sense that they absolutely can do something about world problems isnt a common attitude.

It must become one. Our communities, economies, businesses and our families face an unprecedented convergence of seemingly intractable social, humanitarian and environmental crises, the most complex and daunting of which is climate change. Were all being asked questions about the future of humanity that desperately need answering.

Thats a job for Solutionists. And if youre not one already, you will be by the end of this book.