Brice Sokolowski of Scottsdale on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brice Sokolowski. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Brice, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
Customers enjoy direct contact and interactions – a two-way conversation. They get excited about being part of the company they purchased from.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Brice Sokolowski, President and Founder of Vaucluse Backpack Ventilation Gear. Our company was born from a very simple, yet universal problem: back sweat. As an avid backpacker and traveler for over two decades, I was tired of the constant discomfort of a soaked back, a problem that often limited my enjoyment of the outdoors.

This led me to create Vaucluse Gear, an American company with a passion for designing and manufacturing innovative, ultralight gear. What makes us special is our flagship product, the Ultralight Backpack Ventilation Frame. It’s a simple, yet highly effective solution that attaches to virtually any backpack, creating a crucial gap between your back and the pack. This allows for continuous airflow, reducing heat buildup and preventing sweat. It’s a game-changer for anyone who wears a backpack, whether they’re hiking a mountain trail, commuting to work, or simply carrying school books.

Our brand is built on a commitment to quality, functionality, and sustainability. Our products are proudly designed and manufactured in the USA from recyclable, non-toxic materials. We’re also committed to giving back, donating a portion of our profits to bee farming and trail upkeep organizations.

We’re constantly working on new ways to help people get outside and be more comfortable. We’ve recently expanded our product line to include a mesh sleeve for added comfort and are always listening to feedback from our community to improve our products. Ultimately, our mission is to help people sweat less and enjoy their journeys more.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
For me, a pivotal moment wasn’t a single event, but a series of experiences working for large, multinational corporations. These roles took me across the U.S. and around the world, exposing me to a vast range of people, cultures, and business practices.

This exposure was a crash course in how truly interconnected our world is. I learned to appreciate the nuances of different communication styles, from direct and to-the-point American business culture to the more relationship-focused approach common in many other countries. I saw how a simple misunderstanding could derail a project, and how a little empathy and a willingness to adapt could turn a potential conflict into a successful collaboration.

Ultimately, these experiences taught me that success isn’t just about having the right skills; it’s about being able to connect with people from all walks of life. It shaped my belief that a global mindset—one that values diversity, embraces different perspectives, and prioritizes clear, respectful communication—is not just a nice-to-have, but a fundamental requirement for anyone hoping to thrive in today’s world.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Looking back, I’ve completely changed my mind about what “hard” means. I used to see certain setbacks or failures as monumental, unrecoverable events.

But with time and perspective, I realized that what felt like a serious failure was really just a bump in the road as I would move forward. Experience taught me so much—about resilience, about what not to do next time, and about my own limits. The things I learned from that so-called failure were far more valuable than the outcome I had originally wanted. I learned that “hard” is completely relative; it’s based on your experience and your perspective on the situation. Now, when faced with a challenge, I don’t see it as a potential “hard” failure, but as a valuable learning opportunity.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
That’s an excellent question, and it gets to the heart of what it means to be a strategic leader in a dynamic market. For me, the key to differentiating between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to two things: knowing your numbers and understanding the broader economic and industry context.

My company doesn’t exist in a bubble. We are a part of a much larger ecosystem—an ocean, if you will—that has its own ebbs and flows. A fad is like a sudden, temporary ripple in that ocean. It’s often characterized by a rapid, explosive rise in popularity followed by an equally swift decline. It’s driven by novelty, social media virality, or short-term hype, not by a genuine, long-term change in consumer behavior or technology.

To differentiate between the two, I’m constantly analyzing my business’s numbers and looking for patterns. I’m not just looking at a week’s or a month’s sales, but tracking trends over years. I’m asking: Is this change in demand a flash in the pan, or is it a sustained, multi-year trend? Is this an anomaly, or is it part of a larger pattern? More importantly, I’m aligning my internal data with the overall macro trends of my industry and the economy. By understanding what’s happening on a global scale—the “ocean’s” ebs and flows—I can determine if the waves I’m seeing are just short-lived ripples or a true change in the current that requires a fundamental shift in my business strategy.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I would regret not pursuing a dream and working hard to achieve it. Life is too short to play it safe and let opportunities pass you by. I would regret waiting for the “perfect” moment to start, because the perfect moment doesn’t exist. You aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, so the only real time to begin is now. I believe the greatest regrets come from the chances we didn’t take and the efforts we didn’t make.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vauclusegear.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vauclusegear/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bricesokolowski/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaucluseGear/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vauclusegear

Image Credits
Vaucluse Backpack Ventilation Gear