Nisolo Founder Encourages Students to Pursue Social Responsibility – University of Mississippi | Ole Miss

Report on Patrick Woodyard and Nisolo’s Contribution to Sustainable Development

This report details the work of Patrick Woodyard, a 2010 University of Mississippi graduate and founder of the socially conscious brand Nisolo. It examines the company’s operational model, its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the recognition of its founder’s philanthropic impact.

Nisolo: A Case Study in Socially Responsible Enterprise

Founding Principles and Mission

Following a formative experience in Peru, Patrick Woodyard founded Nisolo, a brand specializing in shoes and leather accessories. The company was established with a holistic mission to connect high-skilled, yet underserved, producers to the global consumer market. The brand name, derived from the Spanish phrase for “not alone,” underscores the core principle that consumer choices have a significant impact on both people and the environment, a concept central to achieving global sustainability.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Nisolo’s business model is fundamentally structured around advancing several key Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The company’s primary commitment is the pursuit of 100% living wages for its producers across Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya, and the United States. This directly addresses the goals of eradicating poverty and promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth with decent work for all.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By providing market access and fair compensation to underserved artisans, Nisolo actively works to reduce inequalities within and among countries.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The brand’s ethos is built on creating a transparent connection between producers and consumers, encouraging responsible consumption patterns and promoting awareness of the production lifecycle.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Nisolo has established a corporate goal of achieving 0% net carbon impact, demonstrating a commitment to combating climate change and its impacts.

Impact and Achievements

Economic and Social Impact

Nisolo has achieved significant scale, generating over $150 million in revenue through e-commerce and partnerships with major retailers. This commercial success has directly translated into support for thousands of workers, providing them with stable, dignified employment that aligns with SDG 8.

Industry Recognition

Mr. Woodyard’s leadership in integrating social and environmental goals with a successful business model has received national and international recognition. His key accolades include:

1. Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree
2. Top 100 U.S. Impact CEO Award (2022, 2023, 2024)
3. Innovator Changing the South Honoree

Philanthropic Recognition and Advocacy

The Emerging Young Philanthropist Award

The Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy (OMWC) presented Patrick Woodyard with its 2025 Emerging Young Philanthropist Award. The council recognized his work for demonstrating that successful commerce can be effectively combined with significant investment in employee well-being and environmental stewardship. The OMWC, which has built a nearly $20 million endowment for scholarships and leadership development, aims to nurture ethical and caring leaders, and highlighted Woodyard as an exemplar of these values.

Advocacy for Social Responsibility

In his remarks, Woodyard credited his education at the University of Mississippi’s Croft Institute for International Studies and Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College for providing the global perspective that shaped his life’s trajectory. He advises students and aspiring professionals to consciously incorporate social responsibility into their careers, framing it as a path toward a more fulfilling life dedicated to purpose beyond self-interest.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Following the sale of Nisolo to Project Bound Inc., Mr. Woodyard is entering a period of reflection to determine his future endeavors. The legacy of Nisolo serves as a powerful example of a for-profit enterprise that successfully embeds the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals into its core operations. It demonstrates a viable model for creating economic value while simultaneously advancing social equity and environmental sustainability.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article highlights Nisolo’s commitment to providing “100% living wages” and supporting “thousands of workers across Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya and the U.S.” This directly relates to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  Nisolo’s mission to “connect underserved, high-skilled producers to consumers worldwide” addresses inequality by providing economic opportunities and fair compensation to artisans in developing countries, thereby promoting their social and economic inclusion.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The brand’s name, Nisolo (“not alone”), and its founder’s message that “our choices as consumers have a massive impact on people and this planet” directly promote sustainable consumption patterns. The company model is built on creating awareness among consumers about the social and environmental impact of their purchases.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly mentions Nisolo’s goal of achieving “0% net carbon impact.” This demonstrates a direct commitment to taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by reducing the company’s environmental footprint.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

  Nisolo’s pursuit of “100% living wages” for all its producers is a direct effort to ensure decent work. By providing stable employment to “thousands of workers,” the company contributes to this target.

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all.

  The article describes how Nisolo connects “underserved, high-skilled producers” from countries like Peru, Mexico, and Kenya to the global market. This business model directly promotes the economic inclusion of these communities, which is the core of this target.

• Target 12.8: Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles.

  Patrick Woodyard’s statement about naming the brand to “remind everyone who interacts with it that we’re not alone and our choices as consumers have a massive impact” shows a clear intent to educate consumers, which aligns perfectly with this target.

• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.

  By setting a corporate goal of “0% net carbon impact,” Nisolo is building its institutional capacity for climate change mitigation and raising awareness about corporate responsibility in combating climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 8.5: The article provides a clear, measurable indicator: the achievement of “100% living wages.” The mention of “supporting thousands of workers” and generating over “$150 million in revenue” also serve as quantifiable indicators of the economic impact and scale of decent work provided.
• Indicator for Target 10.2: An implied indicator is the number and geographic diversity of the producer communities supported. The article lists several countries (“Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Cambodia, Kenya and the U.S.”), which can be used to measure the scope of the company’s efforts to promote economic inclusion for underserved groups.
• Indicator for Target 12.8: The company’s commercial success, including “exceeding $150 million in revenue” and partnering with “world-class retailers such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie and Madewell,” can be used as a proxy indicator for the reach and impact of its message on sustainable consumption among a broad consumer base.
• Indicator for Target 13.3: The primary indicator mentioned is the specific, measurable goal of achieving “0% net carbon impact.” Progress towards this goal can be tracked through carbon accounting and reporting on emission reduction efforts.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: olemiss.edu