Patagonia became famous for

most respected brands on the planet. Aside from producing fleece vests that are equally ubiquitous in corporate offices and mountain lodges, the outdoor-apparel company is known for being outspoken about climate change and for donating a portion of its sales to environmental groups. More than that, Patagonia’s conscientious approach to business has long extended to its employees. From the start, Yvon Chouinard, the mystic climber turned entrepreneur who founded the company, set flexible work hours that gave staff the freedom to chase waves when the swells were right, or pick up their kids from school—all part of an alternative approach to business that Chouinard outlined in his autobiography, Let My People Go Surfing.