The Fan Owned Company (FOC): A New Paradigm for Sustainable Collaboration and ECOnomic Solutions

When I first ventured into entrepreneurship, I imagined freedom and creativity as the core tenets of building something impactful. Over the years, I've developed several businesses, often based on intangible solutions. But when Corkbrick was born—a modular, sustainable building system that empowers individuals to be the architects of their own space—I found myself at the forefront of something much bigger.

Corkbrick is not just a product; it is the cornerstone of a new organizational model I call the Fan Owned Company (FOC). This paradigm isn’t just another tweak to how companies operate; it’s a redefinition of how we collaborate to solve ECOnomic challenges for humankind, focusing on the original meaning of "economy" as managing resources sustainably and intelligently for the collective good.

What is the Fan Owned Company (FOC)?

At its heart, the FOC model is built on trust, transparency, and collaboration. Imagine a company where shareholders aren’t just financial investors but active participants, bringing their talents, networks, and ideas to the table. In this model, every individual involved—whether a shareholder, advisor, or customer—is united by a shared vision and mission.

In Corkbrick Europe, this vision is simple: to empower people to create and recreate spaces with ease, sustainability, and creativity. But the FOC framework can be applied to any business. It thrives on the principle that collaboration, when structured correctly, can outperform the hierarchical, siloed, and often adversarial nature of conventional companies.

Key Features of the FOC Model

1. Trust and Transparency as Pillars

FOC companies operate on clear and transparent rules—what I call “chess-like rules.” Like chess, these rules are simple, impossible to cheat, and require no external judges to enforce. This clarity builds an unshakable foundation of trust among all participants, fostering a sense of fairness and meritocracy.

2. Shareholders as Active Contributors

In a FOC, shareholders are more than investors. They are collaborators, advisors, and co-creators. At Corkbrick, for example, our 274 shareholders across 21 countries include top executives from companies like LEGO, Nike, and Google. Each brings their unique expertise and networks to help the company grow organically.

3. Meritocratic Engagement

Challenges in a FOC are approached through a dynamic matrix. When a problem arises or an opportunity emerges, we match the issue with the best talent available from our advisory board. These collaborators aren’t judged by how much time they spend but by the impact they deliver—a model that recognizes the real value of talent and network over hours logged.

4. Fun and Collaboration

FOC embraces a “fun-on” approach—both in work and in ethos. Collaboration flourishes when people are passionate about what they do and enjoy the process. This spirit of shared enthusiasm enhances creativity, trust, and long-term commitment.

The Corkbrick Example: ECOnomics in Action

Corkbrick epitomizes the FOC model by tackling some of the most pressing challenges in sustainability and adaptability. It offers solutions that are renewable, reusable, and designed to last a lifetime. Every time you reuse Corkbrick, you avoid waste, lower costs, and solve problems ecologically and economically.

Beyond the product, Corkbrick’s organizational structure reflects the same values. Our advisory board operates like a think tank, where problems and opportunities are addressed with precision and innovation. This system is not only efficient but also deeply empowering—it invites diverse voices to participate in shaping the future.

Historical Precedents and Modern Comparisons

While the FOC model is unique in its modern structure, it echoes collaborative systems from history. Ancient guilds, for instance, pooled resources and skills to achieve shared economic goals. More recently, worker cooperatives have aimed to distribute ownership and decision-making among employees.

However, the FOC model transcends these examples by integrating the global reach of modern technology and the principles of trust and transparency. Unlike many cooperatives, which can become bogged down in bureaucracy, the FOC thrives on agility, meritocracy, and a shared mission.

A Blueprint for the Future of Business

As outlined in my book, The Sustainable Organization: A New Paradigm for a Fairer Society, the world needs organizations that prioritize people over profit, collaboration over competition, and sustainability over short-term gains. The FOC model is a tangible step toward this vision.

It’s a system that invites the best minds to coalesce around meaningful challenges, using their collective creativity to solve ECOnomic problems. Imagine if we could apply this model to global issues like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, or urban planning. The potential is enormous.

Why the FOC Model Matters Now

The FOC model isn’t just a framework; it’s a response to a world in crisis. From environmental degradation to economic inequality, our current systems are failing. By shifting from competition to collaboration, from secrecy to transparency, and from greed to shared purpose, we can build organizations that genuinely serve humanity.

At Corkbrick, we’re proving that this is possible. Our vision for a sustainable, adaptable, and creative world is powered not just by our product but by the people who believe in it.

A Call to Action

To all dreamers, creators, and changemakers: the FOC model is not just Corkbrick’s story; it can be yours too. Whether you’re a leader, a professional, or a curious mind, consider how trust, transparency, and collaboration could redefine your organization—and your impact.

Together, let’s create not just sustainable companies but a sustainable world, one built on true ECOnomics, where every action contributes to the well-being of people and the planet.

Join us in building this new paradigm. Let’s make “fun-on” the foundation of a fairer, more vibrant future.

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