The chief of supermarket chain Iceland says there is an "abundance of opportunity ahead of us" despite the global pandemic tearing through industries and causing hundreds of thousands of job losses.
Richard Walker said the Covid-19 crisis saw supermarkets show unprecedented efforts to collaborate, and that the six month period has given many firms the chance to reflect upon "what's broken within our society".
Speaking at the Good Business Festival, a virtual event on Thursday, he said his firm - based in Deeside in North Wales - has "learnt so many things" since the national lockdown was announced in March.
The event was entitled WTF Is Happening, and joining Mr Walker in the discussion chaired by BBC presenter Evan Davis was Ann Cairns, executive vice chair of Mastercard, and businesswoman and campaigner Gina Miller.
When asked by Mr Davis if he can see "any light at this point", Mr Walker said: "We were one of the lucky ones in that we were allowed to keep trading through the crisis. Our 28,000 frontline colleagues didn't have the option to work from home and they've been absolutely heroic - and I'd like to thank each and every one of them for stepping up and helping to feed the nation through this crisis.
"I think we've learnt so many things and I do see an abundance of opportunity ahead of us despite all the doom and gloom and negativity.
"If you look at our business, we created over 3,000 new jobs through the crisis and we actually grew our market share and I think that has come from many different reasons."
He said unlike some who "just looked after their shareholders", his firm took a "genuine multi-stakeholder approach" during the crisis - and it worked.
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"Those that looked out for their customers and their employees and tried to do as best they could along the way were the ones who came out the crisis relatively unscathed.
"I also think it's given us a second wind in terms of trying to fight for the communities which we serve.
"Iceland is uniquely embedded in over 1,000 communities around the 海角视频, and we serve some of the most deprived communities there are."
Referring to Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford's successful bid to extend free school meals to more of the 海角视频's poorest children - which Iceland backed - Mr Walker said: "Things like social innovation - if you look at the steps Marcus Rashford has taken to really look out for the most vulnerable in society, I think the virus has shone a light on what's broken within our society and given us resolve to try and fix it."
He said he also had high hopes that the crisis would not set back environmental targets crucial to fighting climate change.
"I really hope from an environmental perspective that this is an opportunity to finally join the dots about the interconnections between human health, climate and nature.
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"And corona, despite the fact we've now maxed out the nation's credit card, is absolutely not an excuse to row back on previous environmental commitments and I think it's a blank sheet of paper from which we can build back better.
"Within our business, we are absolutely determined to carry on with our commitment to eliminate plastic by 2023 and reduce food waste."
The Good Business Festival was commissioned by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, with Act 1 taking place virtually on Thursday. It's aimed at uniting the global community of businesses and conscious consumers to help deliver positive, meaningful change in society. Act 2 is set to be a physical event taking place in Liverpool in March.
Mr Walker also heaped rare praise upon his supermarket competitors.
"When we were in the midst of all of the panic buying in March and April and our staff were subjected to untold abuse and trouble, I'd like to think the industry really stood together for once.
"Normally, we are the deadliest of competitors but actually there were unparalleled levels of collaboration of the industry and also with Government. We were able to stand shoulder to shoulder and help step up and feed the nation and I think more collaboration, more listening is what leadership in a post-pandemic world is all about."