Tim Brown: Allbirds co-founder on mission-driven design and entrepreneurship

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Aug 14, 2025

Tim Brown, co-founder of sustainable fashion brand Allbirds and former professional soccer player, shares his remarkable journey from the pitch to the boardroom. He discusses how design thinking revolutionized their approach to material innovation and business strategy. Tim emphasizes the power of transparency in entrepreneurship, alongside the lessons he learned from sports about teamwork and patience. He advocates for minimalistic design in crafting a sustainable brand story, blending creativity with environmental responsibility.

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ANECDOTE

From Soccer To Design

Tim Brown pivoted from studying design to pro soccer then back into design after a scholarship in the U.S.
His sports background later shaped how he built teams and persisted through startup challenges.

INSIGHT

Compounding Improvement Matters

Sport taught Tim the value of improving a little bit every day and compounding skill over time.
He applied patience and steady practice to grow Allbirds from an idea into a public company.

INSIGHT

Team Chemistry Over Buzzword Culture

Chemistry is the relational connection that makes teams perform, beyond the overused word 'culture'.
High-performing teams need a mix of star players, glue 'teamers', and guiding coaches to work together.

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Sometimes your career takes an unexpected turn—and that pivot can lead to something bigger than you imagined.

Tim Brown, co-founder of Allbirds, has been there. After a stint as a professional soccer player, Tim found himself on a different path—one that led to creating a simple wool sneaker that would grow into a movement for sustainable fashion.

We spoke with Tim about how he and his co-founder used design thinking to tackle everything from material innovation to business strategy, the importance of being transparent about both successes and failures, and what it really takes to start a mission-driven company. Tim also shares how his athletic background shaped his approach to leadership and why having constraints can actually fuel creativity.

Bio

Tim is the co-founder of Allbirds. He is the creative vision behind the brand, with an eye for all things design. Prior to co-founding Allbirds in 2016, Tim was part of the New Zealand soccer team that reached the 2010 World Cup – a generational achievement for the nation.

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