Ed Catmull

Ed Catmull, most notably the co-founder of Pixar, has earned immense respect in both the business and creative realms. By completely transforming the world of animation and creating one of the most original and admired companies globally, Ed Catmull’s insights are steeped in experience when it comes to leading creative organizations. He’s also the mastermind behind “Creativity, Inc.: Conquering the Hidden Obstacles that Prevent True Inspiration.”

Dr. Ed Catmull doesn’t just have the Pixar co-founder title; he is also the former president of Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Disneytoon Studios. Over the course of more than a quarter-century, Pixar has held the animation universe in its grip, churning out blockbuster hits like Toy Story, Frozen, Cars, and The Incredibles. These films together have raked in more than $14 billion at the global box office and have been showered with awards – 23 Academy Awards, 10 Golden Globe Awards, 11 Grammys, and a myriad of other accolades.

Most sought-after keynotes:

• Addressing hidden barriers to creativity
• Uncoupling fear and failure
• Getting the team right (if you want to get the ideas right)
• Preparing for unknown problems
• Making the process better, but knowing the true goal is to make something great
• Ensuring that a company’s communication structure does not mirror its organizational structure

Dr. Ed Catmull and journalist Amy Wallace joined forces to create “Creativity, Inc.” This book, years in the making, distills the ideas and management strategies that he has employed to foster a culture of creativity. It’s not just for big-shot managers; it’s a guide for anyone who wants to instill a growth mindset and guide their team to new heights. And if you’re curious about the inner workings of Pixar Animation Studios, this book is your golden ticket. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes pass to the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions that birthed some of the most successful films in history.

Dr. Catmull’s accomplishments are staggering. He’s claimed five Academy Awards, with one being a Lifetime Achievement Oscar for his groundbreaking contributions and leadership in the field of computer graphics for the film industry. His prowess also earned him the Turing Award from the Association for Computing Machinery, which is like the granddaddy of awards in the world of computing.

However, his accomplishments extend beyond mere accolades. Dr. Catmull solidified his foundation by earning a Bachelor’s degree in computer science and physics, and he continued to push boundaries by attaining a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah. His achievements impressed the university to such an extent that they granted him an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Engineering in 2005. In 2018, Catmull announced his departure from Pixar, yet his legacy as a pioneer in technology, entertainment, business, and leadership remains everlasting.

Themes:

• Barriers to creativity and addressing them
• Uncoupling fear and failure | Build the right team
• Preparing yourself and your team for unpredictable problems