Profit or Planet? John Bissell, Co-CEO at Origin Materials Reveals How Purpose is the Key to Win Both

John Bissell, Co-CEO and a pivotal innovator in the chemical industry, shares his insights on driving sustainable change and leveraging technology for environmental progress. With a unique blend of technological savvy and entrepreneurial spirit, Bissell has been at the forefront of developing sustainable materials, focusing on both environmental impact and commercial viability.

In this episode of the Culture Leaders Podcast, John Bissell discusses the intricacies of balancing profitability with sustainability, the transformative power of technology in addressing global environmental challenges, and the critical role of leadership in navigating the complexities of modern business. He delves into the mindset required for innovative entrepreneurship and the strategic approach to fostering a culture of adaptability and growth.

Join us as John Bissell takes us through his journey in the chemical industry, reflecting on the importance of making conscious decisions that benefit both humanity and the planet, and the future of sustainable practices in business.

Segmented Timestamps

• [00:17] John's why: Advancing human health and the planet. 

• [01:12] Balancing profitability with sustainability. 

• [04:11] The opportunity in sustainable materials and energy production. 

• [06:06] Capitalism as a scaling function for impactful technology. 

• [09:20] The benefits of a co-CEO model in handling fast growth. 

• [14:20] Recruiting top talent and fostering a high-performance culture. 

• [19:53] The challenge of maintaining alignment during rapid scaling.

Notable Quotes

"We're bringing technology that is a meaningful part of the once in a planet change to sustainable materials and energy production." - John Bissell

"You have to make explicit decisions and trade-offs between making money and long-term benefit." - John Bissell

"Hacking capitalism is leveraging the system of capitalism to scale your purpose." - John Bissell

"It's all about bringing new technology and making the human species better by bringing new technology to the market." - John Bissell

"My why really is focus on the same thing as the mission of the company, Origin, which is how can I bring technologies to the world or to humanity that really advance human health, the planet. You know, it'd be nice to make some money along the way for people that are involved." - John Bissell

USEFUL LINKS

Reach John at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabissell/

Website: https://www.originmaterials.com/

GET MORE FROM THE CULTURE LEADERS PODCAST

Website: https://www.jessicakriegel.com/

Jessica’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegel

Culture Partners LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/culturepartners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess_kriegel/ 

Enjoyed the episode? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please rate / review on Apple.