Michelle You, co-founder and CEO of Supercritical, shares her journey toward helping companies achieve net-zero while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She discusses how motherhood helped her overcome imposter syndrome and reflects on the tough lessons from her first startup exit. The conversation dives into the urgent need for effective carbon removal methods and the complexities of carbon offset programs. Michelle emphasizes the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship and the importance of diverse talent in tackling environmental issues.
Michelle You emphasizes the urgent need for effective carbon removal technologies to combat the climate crisis and achieve net-zero goals.
Her personal journey from the music industry to founding Supercritical illustrates how individual experiences can drive innovative solutions for environmental issues.
The podcast highlights the importance of achieving work-life balance for founders, underscoring the necessity of prioritizing personal well-being alongside professional responsibilities.
Deep dives
Understanding Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsetting is a widely discussed strategy, yet many people do not fully grasp its implications. The conversation highlights that not all carbon offsets are equal, as some are ineffective or lack the necessary verification. For instance, traditional offsets often involve paying others to stop emitting carbon, leaving the original emissions unaddressed. This underscores the necessity for companies to seek high-quality carbon removal solutions that actually eliminate carbon from the atmosphere.
The Importance of Carbon Removal Technologies
A significant insight shared revolves around the urgent need for developing and scaling carbon removal technologies. These methods, such as direct air capture, offer a way to physically remove carbon from the atmosphere, tackling the ongoing climate crisis directly. Current projections suggest that billions of tons of carbon must be removed annually to limit global warming effectively. As technology in this field is still emerging, many companies are encouraged to get involved early to help scale up these vital solutions.
Critique of Conventional Offsets
The discussion brings attention to the inadequacies of conventional carbon offsets that often do not deliver the promised impact. Various studies indicate that a high percentage of these offsets do not contribute to real carbon reductions, creating doubt about their effectiveness. This has led to a growing demand for more transparent, verified, and effective offsets that can truly help companies achieve their net-zero goals. By emphasizing carbon removal rather than offsetting, businesses can take definitive steps toward environmental responsibility.
Michelle Yu's Journey to Founding Supercritical
Michelle Yu shares her personal journey from her initial venture in the music industry with Songkick to founding Supercritical, a company focused on carbon reduction. Her experience in the tech space and subsequent discovery of the inadequacies in the carbon offset market inspired her to create a solution that simplifies and guarantees effective carbon removal. This transition highlights the impact of individual experiences in shaping innovative approaches to pressing global issues. Yu's story reflects the importance of aligning business models with genuine environmental needs.
Work-Life Balance as a Founder
The conversation touches on the challenges of maintaining work-life balance as a founder, especially after experiencing the strains of running a startup while managing personal responsibilities. Michelle emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries, such as avoiding work after hours, to foster a healthier work environment. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for entrepreneurs to prioritize personal well-being alongside their professional pursuits. By adopting a proactive approach to balance, founders can create more sustainable work practices that benefit both themselves and their teams.
Michelle You, co-founder and CEO of Supercritical, is on a mission to help companies get to net-zero but she refuses to sacrifice her personal life for the startup. Michelle talks with Darrell and Jordan about how motherhood has eased her imposter syndrome, the “scar tissue” she had from a tough exit of her first startup, why the planet needs more effective carbon removal methods now, and how she’s using those learnings as a second-time founder.