Nicole Rycroft

To Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of non-profit Canopy, ancient forests are the “cathedrals of the natural world.” . …Prior to launching her own organization, the Australian native worked in a rebel war zone in Burma, where she witnessed firsthand the link between forest ecosystem devastation and human rights abuses — and learned that effective campaigns can be grounded in hope and cooperation. When it comes to inspiring corporate forest strategies, however, Canopy’s influence is no joke. Even though its budget is just $1.4 million for fiscal 2017, the organization is allied with more than 750 companies — including the likes of H&M, Levi Strauss & Co., Penguin-Random House, Sprint and Zara — that have committed to changing business processes that could threaten ancient and endangered forests.