Fully CEO David Kahl Transitions from a CPA to CEO of a Thriving Conscious Company
David Kahl founded Ergo Depot in 2005, which was rebranded as Fully in 2016. Fully is an office furniture company committed to making workplaces healthier, happier, and more productive through its innovative, sustainable designs and its commitment to running a “better” business.
Fully became a Certified B Corporation in 2013 and is a leader in the local Portland chapter, helping develop a guide on how to create strong local B Corp associations around the world.
Best known for its Jarvis standing desk, Fully was recently acquired by a larger publicly traded furniture company in Pennsylvania called Knoll. It was particularly fascinating to discuss with Kahl this process and hear his reflections on it. He expresses both the positive and the negative sides of this acquisition process. It’s a great opportunity to learn about an exemplary model of a better business and a better businessperson.
In our episode with Kahl, we hear about his transition from being a Wall Street CPA to a mindful CEO of a conscious business that is working to change the world one desk at a time.
Want more episodes centered on entrepreneurs moving into the impact-driven space? Listen to:
- #60 — From Nonprofit to Social Enterprise: Insights & Lessons Learned on a 15-Year Entrepreneurial Journey with Rahama Wright, Founder of Shea Yeleen
- #51 — Leveraging Marketing Dollars for Social Good with Doug Lessing, Founder of Phin
- #29 — Transitioning From a Traditional Business to a Social Enterprise, with Bernie Geiss, Founder of Cove Continuity Advisors
Bonus material: Get the full show notes and extras for this episode.
Tune in for these key takeaways from our chat with Kahl:
- The impetus for the founding of Ergo Depot, now Fully.
- Insights on what it was like going from a CPA to a leader in the impact-driven space.
- How he thinks he has contributed to the success of Fully.
- Details on the B Corp’s recent acquisition by Knoll.
Bonus material: Get the full show notes and extras for this episode.
B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
Better by Design: From Wall Street to B Corp was originally published in B The Change on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
