In 2015, researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre explored these questions in their paper Transnational Corporations as ‘Keystone Actors’ in Marine Ecosystems. These “keystone actors” weren’t just participating in the system – they were shaping it,” says Centre researcher Henrik Österblom, lead author of the 2015 study, and instrumental in the keystone actor research since the start. The paper ended with a bold hypothesis: that sustainable leadership by keystone actors could catalyze a transition toward improved management of marine resources and ecosystems. Today, the science of keystone actors and their potential to contribute to biosphere stewardship are key areas of exploration at the Centre. As we mark ten years of keystone actor science, it is time to reflect on what this collaboration between science and industry has taught us – and where it’s heading.