How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#90: Jason Kelly, Ginkgo Bioworks Cofounder & CEO—How to Simplify the Complex


Listen Later

Today’s guest is Jason Kelly, the cofounder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, the largest designer of synthetic DNA in the world.


Think back to the last time someone asked you what you did for a living. For as simple of a question this is, it can actually be really hard to answer. The reason is, in the back of your mind you might be thinking “where do I even start?!” 


Running a business is complex! But until you learn to simplify all of the complexity and learn to talk about what you do in a simple way, you’ll be limiting the kind of impact you could be making as a leader.


And this is something that Jason Kelly has mastered. I mean, tell me a more complex business to have to explain than a synthetic biology platform company. And yet, Jason has learned to simplify the complex. I’m no bioengineering buff but when I hear Jason talk about Ginkgo and what’s possible with the technology they’re pioneering and scaling, he has me leaning in! 


So whether you’re leading a billion-dollar brand or a small business, how you communicate as a leader matters. The great leaders I know have learned to simplify the complex.


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.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

How Leaders Lead with David NovakBy David Novak

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

561 ratings


More shows like How Leaders Lead with David Novak

View all
Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

Acquired

4,636 Listeners

The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project

2,687 Listeners

Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,461 Listeners

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

1,327 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,206 Listeners

Founders by David Senra

Founders

2,165 Listeners

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry by Ted Seides – Allocator and Asset Management Expert

Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry

799 Listeners

Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

Masters of Scale

3,990 Listeners

Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

Inside the Strategy Room

168 Listeners

Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Luminary

Wisdom From The Top with Guy Raz

473 Listeners

The Memo by Howard Marks by Oaktree Capital Management

The Memo by Howard Marks

448 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

674 Listeners

Business Breakdowns by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Business Breakdowns

348 Listeners

HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Strategy

81 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

167 Listeners