Thomas Lundgren on HUMANology

Married to Ewa and father of three daughters, Thomas is a businessman on a mission to change the world. Apart from being the founder of THE One – a home fashion chain that has grown from one store in Abu Dhabi in 1996 to 14 stores across the Middle East, with revenues of over US$96 million and 500 employees – he’s also an international, inspirational business speaker. Thomas holds no college degrees or any other prerequisites, which could possibly qualify him as a retail visionary in charge of a home fashion chain. He is simply an entrepreneur living his dream… A dream he had in 1993, in which an angel set him the task of saving the world from big box corporations. While Thomas has been described by some as the creator of the modern Middle Eastern furniture retail revolution, he doesn’t believe the world needs another retailer. He feels THE One has a higher purpose - a responsibility to improve the world we live in. That’s why, while expertly steering the company through these difficult economic times thanks to unique strategic thinking and effective change management, Thomas refused to compromise on THE One’s various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Being an ideas-driven servant leader he has turned THE One into a Social Enterprise that is both magical and meaningful, inspiring fans with seasonal Home Fashion that is Always Different, Always Limited and Never Expensive, while Changing the World Together through ethical sourcing, challenged employees, local volunteering and THE Onederworld - our Sustainable Village Community programme. Thomas personally kicked off our first Onederworld project in Kenya in August 2008 and THE One is working with the Pimbiniet community on a five-year plan towards self-sufficiency through holistic community development, which includes Quality Primary Education, Healthcare Services, Alternative Income and Water Projects.