oakpool is not your typical digital marketing and data science agency. This firm was founded with an explicit agenda to work with companies that make a positive impact. The company expertise lies in three core sectors: the outdoors and sustainability, health and wellness, and financial inclusion. oakpool builds and manages marketing and data solutions for companies and organizations ranging from GORE-TEX and MIT to venture-backed fintech startups to boutique fishing lodges in Latin America.
The company also donates grant-writing services and a substantial portion of its annual revenue to Elevate Youth. The Boston area non-profit provides children from underserved communities with mentors who take them out into nature, teaching them to ski, fish, and hike.
James Hamilton and Alex Ford are the cofounders at oakpool. Hamilton feels that his purpose in life is, in fact, the pursuit of purpose itself. “I think the search for purpose and understanding of oneself is one of those great asymptotic pursuits, something we can get closer and closer to without ever fully grasping in its entirety.” He has found his way through spending time in nature – fishing, skiing, hiking, and engaging in creative endeavors in the arts and the startup world.
“I have learned that for me, peace comes at the intersection of physical wellness, mental health, and connectivity to the planet,” Hamilton said in an exclusive interview with me. “When these three elements are aligned, I feel connected to everything and everyone.”
Ford says he is still unsure of his life purpose. He fell into the marketing world through a passion for the outdoors and a knack for creating content for meaningful brands. On a two-month-long freelance journalism trip to Cuba, he was surprised to discover that his most popular pieces were about fly fishing in the Bay of Pigs. That ended up getting him hired as the director of marketing at a startup, which led to his current founding role at oakpool.
“We’re lucky that we get to choose our clients based on if we think their product is or could be successful and where they land on our moral compass,” Ford said in an exclusive interview with me. “No one at oakpool is tied to a desk or even one particular role. We were remote long before COVID, and that set us up to succeed. Embracing work-life balance has been a huge win for everyone on our team.”
Hamilton has worked in and for early-stage companies for a decade, as both a venture capital investor and a founder. In his opinion, the greatest challenges of the entrepreneurial path are dealing with uncertainty and building teams. “A business can have all of the right dynamics; a unique value proposition, a growing market, et cetera. Ultimately, though, the most crucial and most difficult element of building any organization is aligning a constellation of individuals around shared vision and culture and encouraging cohesion.”
Ford says he feels tremendous responsibility for the success of the company. “Decisions I make have a very real impact on multiple lives and families,” he says. “This can be intimidating at times. Ultimately, however, it’s the best motivation you could ask for.”
To those looking to tap into their life purpose, Hamilton offers this advice. “Spend more time in nature. Spend more time alone. Push yourself to do things that feel uncomfortable. Discover a spiritual practice.” Ford chimes in, “I hate clichés, but do what makes you happy. You already know what you’re good at. Find something you enjoy, and get or create a job that emphasizes your personal strengths in that domain. The rest will work itself out.”
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