Every once in a while there’s a generational thinker that emerges from the most unlikely of places.
Someone capable of straddling the complexities of new industries without losing their grasp on historical and cultural perspectives. A person willing to forge new paths in new ways toward a brighter future for all.
Ed Catmull is one such generational thinker.
As co-founder of Pixar and later as President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Ed played a key role in shaping a unique company culture of collaboration and creativity. He’s a mastermind of innovation, a pioneer of groundbreaking technology, and a leader when it comes to using great storytelling to forge a better world.
If you’ve ever been captivated by the beloved films Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, you have Ed to thank for that.
Today we discuss the leadership and management principles that built Pixar’s unique and successful studio. More specifically, we talk about the insights that fueled Ed’s career, the workplace practices he leverages to build creative teams, and his personal philosophy of embracing failure as a path to growth.
We also dive into his fascinating life journey, one that included both personal and professional relationships with George Lucas and Steve Jobs.
There is so much to be learned from Ed's story, including some wild industry insights during his stewardship at Pixar and Disney, where he navigated through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, all while delivering blockbuster after blockbuster, garnering eighteen Academy Awards along the way.
This is the stuff of legend.
If you’re a creator or manager of any kind, or if you’re simply looking to glean wisdom from one of the most fascinating and accomplished people alive, then you’re in for a treat.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.
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