I'm the CEO of Outside. I bring my bike on flights, drink ketones every day, and tell my staff to get off Zoom.

Robin Thurston is the founder and CEO of Outside Interactive, a company that owns outdoor media and tech platforms such as Outside Magazine, Velo, Gaia GPS, Inntopia, and Outside Days. Thurston grew up in Colorado and has been involved in the outdoor industry for many years, having raced in Europe for four years as a cyclist. He still rides his bike for 7,000 to 10,000 miles annually.

Thurston's love for the outdoors began when his father gifted him an Outside Magazine in 1979, featuring Arches National Park. He co-founded MapMyFitness, held leadership positions at Under Armour and Helix, and eventually founded Outside Interactive in 2019.

Despite the increasing amount of screen time people experience, Thurston strives to spend as much of his workday outdoors as possible. He checks the weather six times a day and wakes up between 5:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to take his three dogs for a walk. Thurston fuels himself with coffee, a high-protein meal, and ketone supplements to maintain energy during workouts.

Thurston bikes most days of the week, with longer rides scheduled for weekends. He uses his bike during international flights, taking it instead of running shoes, and has multiple AirTags to track its location. Thurston works from home and hosts "food meetings" with clients, preferring to take them outdoors rather than on Zoom. He encourages his staff to walk during calls and use AI responsibly, emphasizing that checks must be made for accuracy.