--- title: The Long Weekend Round Up description: Five recent stories that are inspiring us heading into the long weekend. image: https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/zwaddi-YvYBOSiBJE8-unsplash.jpg --- [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-charcoal-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![☰](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-hamburger-charcoal-70-50.png "☰") - [Focus](http://www.ksvc.com/focus/) - [Capabilities](http://www.ksvc.com/capabilities/) - [Work](http://www.ksvc.com/work/) - [People](http://www.ksvc.com/people/) - [Culture](http://www.ksvc.com/culture/) - [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) # The Long Weekend Round Up Posted by [Shaina Kaye](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/shaina-kaye) on May 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![zwaddi-YvYBOSiBJE8-unsplash](https://blogs.ksvc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/zwaddi-YvYBOSiBJE8-unsplash.jpg?width=600&name=zwaddi-YvYBOSiBJE8-unsplash.jpg) Like many around the country, here at KSV we are winding down the work week and looking ahead to Memorial Day Weekend, the first long weekend of the year and the unofficial start of summer.  To pause and reflect for a moment, it is truly incredible to think about where we were about this time [last year](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/together-apart): we were all home, in lockdown and [facing countless unknowns](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/permission-to-lead) as the pandemic was hitting its first peak and a long overdue social awakening was occurring across the country as a result of several tragic catalysts. A year later, and a lot has changed. The most pressing [issues](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/intersectional-environmentalism) facing us aren’t fixed by any means, but every day news, innovations, discussions and [opportunities](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/messaging-your-mission-part-one-the-why) are unveiled that bring us that much closer.  As a feel-good kickoff to the long weekend, here are just a few stories inspiring us lately: [A peek behind the scenes at KEEN’s “Detox the Planet” Initiative](https://www.ana.net/magazines/show/id/cbp-2021-05-purposeful-people-erik-burbank): an insightful and inspiring conversation with Erik Burbank, who is leading the purpose-driven shoe brand’s sustainability efforts. For the past several years, the footwear specialists at KEEN have been working hard to keep PFCs, or perfluorocarbons, out of their supply chain through the company’s “Detox the Planet” initiative.  [How to lead in the stakeholder era](https://hbr.org/2021/05/how-to-lead-in-the-stakeholder-era): Spoiler alert - put people and purpose first. Profits will follow. Authored by Hubert Joly, the former chairman and CEO of Best Buy, this Harvard Business Review Big Idea piece shines a light on what it ultimately takes to lead in 2021: a declaration of *interdependence*. [How childhood bullying inspired this LEGO VP to design an LGBTQ set](https://www.fastcompany.com/90639435/how-childhood-bullying-inspired-this-lego-vp-to-design-an-lgbtq-set): To paraphrase many famous quotes - our pasts shape our future. And nowhere is this more true than our ability as individuals to overcome and thrive in the face of adversity by making an impact that lasts for future generations. LEGO, in recent years, has fought back against toy-gender stereotypes. And this year, one VP’s past is shaping the brand’s latest inspiring product offering. [Five companies that are using nature to redefine good design](https://www.greenbiz.com/article/5-companies-are-using-nature-redefine-good-design): When you think of good product design, does “nature” pop into your head? Maybe not immediately, admittedly. But these five companies are taking a second look at nature and its inherently balanced yet nuanced ecosystems, and using those learnings to build solutions to some of humans’ trickiest problems. [These microscopic robots swim through the ocean and dissolve microplastics](https://www.fastcompany.com/90639844/these-microscopic-robots-swim-through-the-ocean-and-dissolve-microplastics). Teeny, tiny solutions that can help clean our oceans and eliminate detrimental microplastics? In the past we may have been skeptical about robots saving the Planet, but perhaps it’s time, at least in this instance, to give them a chance. Topics: [Innovation](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation), [Inspiration](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/inspiration), [Branding and Brand Value](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding-and-brand-value), [In the News](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/in-the-news), [Climate and Social Justice](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-and-social-justice) ### [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) EnergyWire is KSV’s weekly insight into the consumer mindset when it comes to energy. It’s an honest conversation on the reality of their perceptions and motivations, and how energy services companies can use this insight to successfully engage customers. ### Sign Up ### Recent Posts ### Topics - [Customer-Centric Marketing (216)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing) - [Utility Communications (184)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications) - [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices (159)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Innovation (156)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation) - [Digital Transformation and User Experience (100)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience) - [Audience Segmentation (88)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) - [Data and Analytics (83)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics) - [Energy Efficiency (77)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-efficiency) - [Clean Energy (61)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/clean-energy) - [Branding and Brand Value (59)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding-and-brand-value) - [Research (49)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/research) - [Climate Change (48)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-change) - [Inspiration (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/inspiration) - [Sustainability Marketing (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainability-marketing) - [B Corporation (38)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b-corporation) - [Content Marketing (38)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/content-marketing) - [Climate and Social Justice (35)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-and-social-justice) - [Creative (34)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative) - [In the News (31)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/in-the-news) - [Smart Technology (24)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/smart-technology) - [Social Media Strategy and Best Practices (23)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/social-media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Company Culture (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/company-culture) - [Media Strategy and Best Practices (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Industry Expert Interviews (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/industry-expert-interviews) - [Sustainable Brands (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainable-brands) - [B2B marketing (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b2b-marketing) - [Electrification (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/electrification) - [Creative Showcase (10)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative-showcase) - [Energy Storage (9)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-storage) - [AI (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ai) - [D2C (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/d2c) - [Artificial Intelligence (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Vermont (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/vermont) - [Branding (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding) - [Case Study (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/case-study) - [Brand Activations (3)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/brand-activations) - [SEO (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/seo) - [Search (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/search) - [Augmented Reality (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/augmented-reality) - [Digital Video (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-video) - [OOH (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ooh) - [Paid Search (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/paid-search) ... ##### Get in touch. ###### Vermont 212 Battery Street Suite 2 Burlington, VT 05401 [802.862.8261](tel:8028628261) ###### New York 27 E 28th Street Suite 15055 New York, NY 10016 [212.366.4000](tel:2123664000) ## Sign up for KSV insights ## Thanks for subscribing! 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