Dr. Michael Crooke, Ph.D. is a seasoned executive thought-leader, educator and consultant operating at the intersection of Values, Engagement and Competitive Strategy. He is the co-founder of WAYB, a values-led company reinventing on-the-go gear for family adventures. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, WAYB raises the bar on products that are better for parents, kids, and the planet, starting with the ultralight and compact Pico car seat.A former Navy SEAL, he has twenty years experience with responsible businesses, serving as CEO of Pearl Izumi, Prana, Revolution Living (with AOL Founder Steve Case) and most notably Patagonia Inc. At Patagonia, he and his team oversaw efforts to reinvigorate the brand and renew employee satisfaction returning the company to growth and profitability levels that allowed it to remain private. During this revitalization they consistently moved up the ranking in Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work survey. This experience translated into Dr. Crooke’s doctoral research (under the tutelage of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) into the interplay of values, engagement (FLOW), and performance, which has formed the intellectual basis for his current career as an educator and consultant. He was the founding and lead faculty of the award-winning Socially, Environmentally and Ethically Responsible (SEER) business certificate at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business & Management and is currently the first Avamere Professor of Practice at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business where he is the founding faculty of the Advanced Strategy and Leadership MBA specialization. From 2017-2023 Dr. Crooke served as the CEO/Chief Investment Officer of RandEholdings- a family office invested in Oregon vineyards, hospitality, venture capital and health care. He also counsels high-growth businesses on strategic issues, particularly on connecting Organizational Engagement, Innovation, Core Values and Strategic Vision.