Susie Tompkins Buell

“This is an extraordinary time in our history and the best of humanity is called upon to rise.  We’ve assembled a powerful, creative, and committed group of women and men profoundly in touch with the qualities of art, soul, and activism that, we are confident, can encourage and enable us.  It will take a deeply connected community to sustain the Resistance over the next four years, and a day filled with art, heart, motivation and marching orders is just the ticket.” 

Susie Tompkins Buell inspires through her activism, philanthropy and spirit. She creates opportunities that allow women and girls to become leaders in local, national, and global arenas. Motivated by her love for the environment, she advocates for creators of climate solutions and bolsters efforts that ignite public outcry about the world’s climate crisis. Susie is also fiercely committed to supporting progressive women in politics. In 2002, she seed-funded Emerge America, an organization now in 18 states dedicated to training women to run for public office. Her support for equal representation has helped to increase the number of Democratic women in the U.S. Senate and to propel the historic presidential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A native San Franciscan, Susie spearheaded the introduction of the Northern California lifestyle to the world through the clothing company she co-founded, Esprit. As an entrepreneur, she pioneered a progressive corporate culture and was one of the originators of socially-conscious marketing, raising awareness of social and environmental issues among employees and consumers.

Susie, a grandmother of ten, relishes time at home or out in nature with husband Mark Buell, friends, family, and her two beloved Jack Russells.