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How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#06: Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat Founder & CEO—Tap Into the Power of Purpose

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

David Novak Leadership

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management

4.8596 Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2020

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today’s guest is Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. You hear a lot of leaders say they want to change the world. But that is literally Ethan’s mission at Beyond Meat. Their company is devoted to getting the same protein as animal meat straight from plants – so they can reduce climate change, improve human health, and help animal welfare. Now that’s an epic mission!  And when you listen to Ethan, you realize just how powerful his sense of purpose is. It’s the driving force behind the incredible product development at Beyond Meat. It’s what influences their marketing and competitive strategy. It’s also a huge piece of their team culture.  That sense of purpose is like the ultimate source of renewable energy!  Now of course, your sense of purpose is going to vary. But great leaders know how to use purpose as motivation when the going gets tough or when they need to reach a big goal.  Nobody does that better than Ethan – and with so much intelligence and humility to boot. So let’s dig in and see how great leaders tap into the power of purpose. You’ll also learn: One common tactic that can actually hold your company back, especially in product development and marketing The surprising mindset that helps you stay relevant in a rapidly shifting world How to encourage the “fail fast” culture on your team Why self-awareness is crucial to your growth as a leader Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very best leaders in the world.

0:11.6

I break down the key learning so by the end of the episode, you'll have something that you can apply as you develop into a better leader.

0:19.1

That's what this podcast is all about.

0:22.0

Today's guest is Ethan Brown, founder and CEO of Beyond Meat.

0:26.7

Now, you're going to hear a lot of leaders, and they'll talk about changing the world.

0:30.7

But that is literally Ethan's mission at Beyond Meat.

0:34.4

His company is devoted to getting the same protein as animal meat straight from plants

0:39.6

so that they can reduce climate change, improve human health, and help animal welfare.

0:45.8

Now, if that isn't an epic mission, I don't know what is. And you know, when you listen to

0:51.4

Ethan, you realize just how powerful his sense of purpose is.

0:55.6

It's the driving force behind the incredible product development of Beyond Meat.

1:00.2

It's what influences their marketing and competitive strategy.

1:03.9

It's also a huge piece of their team culture.

1:07.3

That sense of purpose is like the ultimate source of renewable energy. Now, of course, your sense of

1:14.8

purpose is going to vary, but great leaders know how to use purpose as motivation when the going

1:21.2

gets tough or they need to reach a big goal. Ethan does this exceptionally well and with so much intelligence and humility to

1:30.3

boot. So let's dig in and see how great leaders tap into the power of purpose. Here's my conversation

1:37.3

with my good friend and soon to be yours, Ethan Brown.

1:49.0

Ethan, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us.

1:50.6

Oh, it's such a pleasure to be here.

1:56.8

As you know, I'm a big fan of your work and have followed your career and read a lot of your work.

1:57.2

And so just really appreciative to be here.

...

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