Ed Catmull is an enigma. There's a good chance you wouldn't recognize him if he were standing right next to you. Yet, he's the creative genius and co-founder of Pixar - a totally unique organization that has completely changed the way many of us think about movies, culture, and even what it means to be a human being.
In this conversation
Ed Catmull is an enigma. There's a good chance you wouldn't recognize him if he were standing right next to you. Yet, he's the creative genius and co-founder of Pixar - a totally unique organization that has completely changed the way many of us think about movies, culture, and even what it means to be a human being. Catmull usually avoids the spotlight. In reality, he would rather work - behind the scenes - to build a fertile culture in which others can grow and succeed.
In which others can reach their full creative potential. And, in which others can satisfy basic - if not contradictory human needs - like expressing individual ideas while simultaneously collaborating with others to build it into something much more profound. Who could ever forget these iconic Pixar characters?: Tom Hanks in Toy Story Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks in Finding Nemo Samuel L. Jackson in The Incredibles Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a Bug's Life Should we take the time to listen to Catmull's advice?
Well, many others have over the past few decades, including visionaries like Steve Jobs and George Lucas ; creative geniuses like Brad Bird and Pete Docter ; business icons like Bob Iger ; and even top thought leaders (and former guests on our podcast), Professors Amy Edmondson , Linda Hill, and Roger Martin. Trust us...Ed is worth a listen!
Key ideas
- Tom Hanks in Toy Story
- Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks in Finding Nemo
- Samuel L. Jackson in The Incredibles
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a Bug's Life
Ed Catmull — Co-founder, Pixar
