Volcom, a Southern California-based lifestyle and apparel company, announced the winners of #ThisFirst, a global initiative to find and reward 15 people who, against the odds, are striving to turn their passion into their career. Throwing out the traditional job application, Volcom asked candidates one question, “What’s your ‘this’ and what would it mean for you to put #ThisFirst?’
The search received over 10,000 global entries, across social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and an online submission platform. Art, photography and travel were the most common submission themes overall with music, surfing and skateboarding following closely behind. From roller derby to launching a food truck in Alaska, passions spanned a variety of topics including sustainable farm to table food sourcing, charity work, animal rescue, make-up artistry and even crochet.
“ThisFirst is an exploration into the irrational pursuit of your passion, it’s all about the ‘whatever it takes’ mindset! We were amazed to see so many people around the world who are ready to live their ‘this’ to the fullest, every day,” said EVP of Global Marketing Ryan Immegart. “When looking through entries, it was interesting to see the different passions and patterns across different regions that emerged. For example, in Asia Pacific regions submissions tended to focus on charitable giving, whereas Australians were all about getting out and traveling the globe.”
Winners will receive a cash prize that will provide a helpful boost for each to take their passion to the next level. In addition, winners will also be paired with a Volcom mentor, an expert in a relevant field that will provide resources and knowledge to help these new recruits make their dreams a reality. Their journey will culminate in a documentary film produced by Volcom.
“We were blown away to see so many submissions – with over 10,000 it was a challenge to choose just 15 winners. But in the end, we chose the stories that we felt embodied the #ThisFirst spirit and can’t wait to see what these inspiring individuals will create over the next six weeks,” said Volcom CEO Todd Hymel. “The incredible turnout already has us thinking about what’s next for #ThisFirst. There’s nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their goals and live their dreams.”
Volcom introduced the first round of #ThisFirst new hires with a celebration video that brings their passions to life, while showcasing a sampling of submissions from around the world.
The five North America winners include:
- Robert Wall: A cliff jumper from Northern California pioneering a new sport
- Canarus Leon: A dancer out to change the world from Houston
- Tim Briggs: An environmentalist with a love for the ocean from Boston
- Sara Becker: An artist changing the stigma of mental illness from Philadelphia
- Brandon Clements: A music storyteller and podcaster interviewing his idols from Houston
The 10 global winners include:
- Chen Yu Ching: a charity founder in Taiwan
- Tylah Kerr: a musician from Australia
- Atsushi Miki: a drummer from Japan
- Simón Sepulveda: a designer who brings awareness to social issues from Chile
- Fabian Chama: a street performer from Costa Rica
- Carolina Paz: a painter promoting social work through art from Peru
- Joanna Painter: a charcoal artist from U.K.
- Anaïs Chausse: an obstacle course racer from France
- Angel Perez Ortega: a fake brand commercial director from Spain
- Steffen Tuermer: a photographer from Germany
Winners will embark on a six-week journey to turn their passion into their paycheck, documenting their journey along the way by posting a new piece of creative content – photos, videos, drawings – to their social channels every week. Their journey will then culminate with a #ThisFirst Wrap Party which will showcase the work of all global winners. The event will be held at the new Volcom Garden in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 9.
To learn more information about #ThisFirst visit: www.volcom.com/thisfirst
ABOUT VOLCOM:
Inspired by creative spirit, Volcom was founded in 1991 and creates products for the persistent who are true to their passions. We were born to chase what we are true to. It’s not that we want to… WE HAVE TO. We have a vision that turns obstacles into opportunity, a creative courage to tempt the impossible…And embrace the strange. Telling us to push further…To try again. Endlessly seeking elevation, we are all connected by this same internal force. Forever we chase that intoxicating moment when our vision is realized…The world around us goes quiet…And for brief moments, we are more than alive. Volcom, True To This.
For more information, please visit https://www.volcom.com
Volcom is part of the Kering Group, a world leader in apparel and accessories with an ensemble of powerful Luxury, Sport & Lifestyle brands. https://www.kering.com
