Chances are, you've had to rebuild at some point in your life, either by choice or by circumstance. It's an experience that each of us shares, and one that shapes us whether we like it or not. For me, I had a recent series of events that definitely required a moment of reflection and change.
In 2022, I was thrust into a caretaker role due to an unexpected health crisis in my family that was quickly followed by a layoff during the tech industry upheaval. It was a challenging time to be job hunting, opportunities were sparse and pressure was mounting as more time passed. Despite this, it was a priority for me to have a career that aligned with my values. Just when things seemed bleak, a referral led me to an interview at Workshop, a mission-based company co-founded by business and life partners Anna and Ben Adlard.
During the interview process, Ben and Anna were transparent and authentic, prioritizing thoughtful conversations over the formulaic and routine interview questions I had experienced with other companies. In our conversations it was clear—Workshop was serious about actually making an impact and driving change for both the planet and the people on it. I had finally found my next chapter—the restart I needed.
For years, Workshop had just been a team of two (Anna and Ben) working in several mission-based sectors. Now, Workshop was ready to expand into a team and focus all of its energies on the climate crisis. My first task was to steward Workshop’s rebranding efforts to align with this repositioning. (Read Workshop's origin story)
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I knew this was a unique opportunity that called for an authentic story that conveyed Workshop's mission, values, and the people within it. I dove deep into researching biomimicry and the systems within nature. That's when I learned about the adaptation of the Protea flower – a beautiful native South African flower found near Ben and Anna’s old home. True to its storied reputation and symbolism, the Protea flower has a unique ability to adapt and withstand the climate crisis in real time. In recent years, the flowers have evolved to grow denser together to withstand brush fires. Even when the flowers burn, their seeds survive the flames, giving rise to a new generation better equipped to withstand future fires. They’ve even adapted to withstand drought. Rain has stopped falling over their habitat, but the flowers have learned to soak up dew through their petals – a shocking and remarkable ability uncommon in plants.
It wasn't just an 'aha moment' for the brand; it was a personal revelation for me and the rest of the team. Here was a flower that not only survived but thrived in adverse conditions, adapting in awe-inspiring ways just to exist. It was not only a reflection of Anna and Ben's courageous life reset, and Workshop's ambitious mission to tackle the climate crisis, but also a reflection of my own personal journey.
Now our logo, the Protea, has become our guiding symbol for our brand at Workshop, infusing a renewed sense of purpose and clarity into everything from our work culture to our client solutions. As we look towards our uncertain global future, we need to remind ourselves of the resilience and regeneration that lies within each of us. Confronting the enormity of the climate crisis is daunting, but each of us possess the power to transform into stronger, more resilient versions of ourselves when faced with monumental challenges. Let’s aim for more than mere survival; let’s work together to regenerate both people and the planet.
