Derek Sabori
Kozm
Irvine, CA USA
"Be okay with wandering a little. Be okay with trying new things. And if it doesn’t work, bounce over and try something else."
Career Roadmap
Derek's work combines: Environment & Nature, Business, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Fine/Studio Arts, General
University of California, Irvine
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
University of California, Irvine
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Co-Founder:
Bachelor's Degree: Fine/Studio Arts, General
Graduate Degree: Business Administration and Management, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I went to University of California, Irvine (UCI) and got my bachelor’s degree in fine arts.
2.
Got a job at Volcom and eventually returned to UCI to get my MBA while I was working there.
3.
There was an Eco Club at Volcom and we got together one day to watch An Inconvenient Truth, which made me realize the importance of environmental sustainability.
4.
Became more and more interested in environmental sustainability and decided I wanted to focus my energy and work in that area.
5.
Worked at Volcom for 19 years in various capacities, eventually specializing more and more in sustainability practices for the company.
6.
Decided to take a huge risk and left Volcom to co-found, Kozm, a retail company providing sustainable yoga goods made mindfully and ethically.
7.
I also still consult for Volcom and teach about sustainability at Orange Coast College.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I'm 45, I shouldn't quit my job just to start something new that might not work out.
How I responded:
When I left Volcom to start Kozm, it was a huge leap. I was well-established in my career and the thought of leaving that all behind to start something brand new was intimidating. At the end of the day, I liked the idea, I liked the partner, and there was something in me that kept saying that I could do it, so I took the leap. I didn't want to get to 50 years old without never having taken a chance on an entrepreneurial venture.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was the first in my family to go to college, so I didn't really have a set path laid out for me. I talked to my counselors a lot and relied on them to help me figure things out.
I started out as an engineering major due to a suggestion from one of my counselors. I did two years of that, but eventually realized that wasn't for me, so I switched to art.
I went from being a studio art major, to answering phones at Volcom, to working in sustainability. It was something that sort of discovered me along the way, but I went through I lot of uncertainty and winding paths to get to where I am now.