Derek Handley is a New Zealander, social entrepreneur, and author. He most recently donated two years of his life to Sir Richard Branson to help create what is now known as The B Team, as founding CEO. The B Team is a global leadership collective on a mission to catalyze better ways of doing business for the wellbeing of people and our planet. It comprises 16 iconic members such as Sir Richard, Arianna Huffington, Ratan Tata, and Professor Muhammad Yunus. He is also a committed astronaut-in-waiting with Virgin Galactic; an adjunct executive professor at AUT University in Auckland; chair and co-founder of NZX-listed B-Corp Snakk Media; and board director at ASX-listed Sky Television, New Zealand’s largest media company. Derek started The Hyperfactory in 2001, one of the first strategic and production houses in the world specializing in helping Fortune 500 brands navigate the mobile world. It was cited as Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 100 Brightest Ideas of 2010” and Brandweek’s “10 Biggest Ideas of 2008,” and was acquired by Meredith Corporation in 2010. He is a former EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year of New Zealand and released his first book “Heart to Start” in 2013, on the entrepreneurial journey and pursuing personal purpose.
