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September 26, 2024 • 23min
Bill Gates, Brian Chesky, and more: Unheard moments from our first Summit
Masters of Scale
This episode of Masters of Scale features highlights from the first Masters of Scale Summit in 2022, showcasing insights from business leaders and innovators on topics ranging from creativity and crisis management to diversity and global challenges. The summit brought together speakers like Bill Gates, Airbnb's Brian Chesky, and Pixar executive Lindsey Collins to share lessons on scaling businesses and driving meaningful change.
Bill Gates, Brian Chesky, and more: Unheard moments from our first Summit
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Key Takeaways
- Embracing failure and risk-taking is crucial for innovation, even when a company is successful. Leaders must push themselves and their teams to avoid playing it safe.
- During a crisis, a leader's psychology becomes the psychology of the organization. Maintaining optimism rooted in facts is essential for creativity and problem-solving.
- Frequent, open communication is critical during challenging times. Leaders should increase communication 4x during a crisis.
- Making principled decisions based on values, rather than just business metrics, can help guide difficult choices during uncertainty.
- Providing access and opportunities, especially for underrepresented groups, can drive meaningful change and innovation in organizations and society.
- True allyship requires action, not just words. Companies can make concrete commitments to support underrepresented groups through initiatives like the 15% Pledge.
- Solving global challenges like renewable energy requires significant investment in R&D for breakthrough technologies, as well as involvement from the private sector.
Introduction
This episode of Masters of Scale features highlights from the first Masters of Scale Summit in 2022, showcasing insights from business leaders and innovators on topics ranging from creativity and crisis management to diversity and global challenges. The summit brought together speakers like Bill Gates, Airbnb's Brian Chesky, and Pixar executive Lindsey Collins to share lessons on scaling businesses and driving meaningful change.
Topics Discussed
Scaling Creativity at Pixar (03:23)
Lindsey Collins, a Pixar executive, discusses how the animation studio has evolved and scaled its creative process over the years:
- Pixar grew from making one film every few years to producing 3 films every 2 years
- The company attracts different types of talent now compared to its early startup days
- Maintaining a culture of risk-taking and innovation becomes more challenging as the company grows successful
"When you have everything to lose, that's when the risk gets super scary," Collins notes. She emphasizes the importance of constantly pushing boundaries and avoiding complacency.
Iterative Filmmaking Process (06:04)
Domee Shi, creator of the Pixar film "Turning Red", shares insights on their iterative filmmaking approach:
- Pixar uses 8 screening cycles over 2-3 years to refine films
- The process involves showing rough cuts to get feedback and rewriting extensively
- It requires getting comfortable with failure and showing imperfect work
"Filmmaking is just throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks," Shi explains. This iterative process allows them to identify key moments and refine the story over time.
Navigating Crisis at Airbnb (08:04)
Brian Chesky, Airbnb's founder, recounts how the company navigated the existential crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020:
- Airbnb lost 80% of its business in 8 weeks as the pandemic hit
- The crisis forced them to focus on what was truly essential for the business
- Managing one's own psychology as a leader is crucial during a crisis
- Increased communication frequency (4x normal) helped maintain alignment
- Making principled decisions rather than just business decisions guided their choices
"The psychology of the leader becomes the psychology of the organization," Chesky emphasizes. He stresses the importance of maintaining optimism rooted in facts to foster creativity during challenging times.
Driving Change Through Government (15:20)
Princess Reema, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US, shares her experience driving change for women's inclusion in sports:
- Introduced physical education in girls' schools for the first time in Saudi Arabia
- Enabled women to participate in sports and compete internationally
- Overcame obstacles by focusing on getting things done before opposition could arise
"The no is simply what you could imagine doesn't exist," Princess Reema states, highlighting the importance of pushing boundaries to create change.
The 15% Pledge for Racial Equity (17:39)
Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies, discusses creating the 15% Pledge to support Black-owned businesses:
- Called on major retailers to commit 15% of shelf space to Black-owned businesses
- Rapidly gained traction, with Sephora becoming the first major corporation to commit
- Partnered with companies like McKinsey, Google, and Vogue to support Black businesses
"This was not a calling out. This was a calling in. This was an opportunity," James explains. She emphasizes that allyship requires concrete action and accountability.
Scaling Renewable Energy Solutions (22:06)
Bill Gates discusses the challenges of scaling renewable energy and the need for breakthrough technologies:
- Reliability is the key challenge for renewable energy, especially during extreme weather events
- Emphasizes the need for breakthroughs in nuclear fission and fusion technology
- Highlights the increased involvement of private sector companies in climate solutions
- Stresses the importance of innovation and investment in green technologies
"Human innovation is incredible," Gates remarks, expressing optimism about the potential for technological breakthroughs to address climate challenges.
Conclusion
The inaugural Masters of Scale Summit brought together diverse perspectives from business leaders, innovators, and change-makers to explore key challenges in scaling businesses and driving societal change. The discussions highlighted several common themes:
- The importance of embracing risk and failure to drive innovation, even as organizations grow and become successful
- The critical role of leadership in navigating crises and maintaining team morale and creativity
- The power of concrete actions and commitments in driving meaningful change, particularly in areas like diversity and inclusion
- The need for significant investment and cross-sector collaboration to tackle global challenges like climate change
These insights offer valuable lessons for leaders across industries as they seek to scale their organizations, navigate uncertainty, and make a positive impact on society. The summit demonstrates the power of bringing together diverse perspectives to spark new ideas and drive innovation in business and beyond.
