Sofi Khwaja-Horekens
Co-founder and CEO of Thesus (formerly Alice + Whittles), an award-winning social and environmentally progressive outdoor footwear brand servicing the global market for sustainable footwear. Thesus is leading the way in building a regenerative footwear business, one that has a positive impact at every stage of its value chain.
Sofi has moved ThesusTM beyond supply chain "sustainability" toward a regenerative mindset - developing relationships with long-term partners around the globe who are values-aligned, centering planetary boundaries, nature, and materials innovation in the business model. ThesusTM celebrates diversity and inclusion in the outdoors and inspires millions of people living in growing cities around the world to Be Outside, connecting with themselves, their community, and the Planet.
In addition to her work with Thesus, Sofi is currently adjunct faculty with the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation and think tank with a mandate to accelerate the transition to a net zero and nature-positive economy through systems change.
Before launching ThesusTM, Sofi worked in management consulting, law, policy, and fieldwork with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Canada, Switzerland, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
She currently lives in a small village in the Swiss Alps with her husband Nicholas (co-founder of Thesus) and their son Emile.
- Woman of the Year 2022 - BSB, Canada
- CAFA Nominee 2022 for Sustainability - Canada.
- Speaker on Eco-preneurship - SalesForce, AAFA, Aga Khan Museum, Soho House, and various secondary and post-secondary educational institutions.
- Former board member of the Fair Rubber Association
