In this episode of Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge, Mike speaks with Jeremy Lassman, founder and CEO of The Passion Company and former SpaceX technologist, about an unconventional—but increasingly relevant—idea: passion as the fuel that powers human and organizational performance.

Jeremy shares how his time at SpaceX, including working directly with Elon Musk during the company’s earliest launches, shaped his thinking around intensity, innovation, and execution. From helping relocate SpaceX infrastructure with zero downtime to producing a music video commemorating the company’s first successful launch, Jeremy experienced firsthand what happens when human energy and vision are fully engaged.

The conversation explores his current work at The Passion Company, where he treats passion as a basic human need—similar to water or electricity—and introduces the concept of “imagination technology.” Jeremy argues that stress, anxiety, and disengagement are signs of degraded fuel, and that leaders must learn how to refine and manage human energy as technology accelerates faster than ever.

They also discuss leadership, delegation, company culture, and why empowering teams is essential to sustaining passion at scale. Rather than chasing productivity hacks or tools, Jeremy makes the case that internal alignment and energy determine whether organizations thrive or stall.

Key takeaways include:

Why passion is a leadership system, not a soft concept

Lessons from early-stage SpaceX culture and execution

How delegation and trust sustain innovation

The risks of scaling technology faster than people