How a Trip to Argentina Sparked a Business Revolution
The story of Blake Mycoskie and the “One for One” model that changed social entrepreneurship
Blake Mycoskie had already founded and sold four successful businesses before his 30th birthday—a remarkable achievement by any standard. But it was a chance trip to Argentina in 2006 that would transform his approach to business forever.
While traveling through rural communities, Mycoskie witnessed children without shoes facing not just discomfort, but serious health and education barriers. After observing a local shoe drive, he had a revolutionary insight: rather than creating a charity that would constantly need fundraising, what if he built a sustainable business model where every purchase guaranteed help for someone in need?
This simple idea became TOMS Shoes—a company that pioneered the “One for One” business model. For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS would give a pair to a child in need. The model proved that businesses could be both profitable and philanthropic by design, not just as an afterthought.
The TOMS Impact:
- Over 100 million pairs of shoes given to children in need
- Expanded to provide eyewear, clean water, and safe birth services
- Inspired dozens of companies to adopt similar social impact models
- Demonstrated that consumers will support businesses with authentic social missions