Dr. Nathan Regier is honored to have David Katz as a guest, who has been named one of the world’s most compassionate entrepreneurs by Salt Magazine. David is the founder and CEO of Plastic Bank, an internationally recognized solution to ocean plastic, which is a global network of micro recycling markets that empowers the poor to transcend poverty by cleaning the environment. The Plastic Bank is an ecosystem that provides an opportunity for the world to collect and trade plastic waste as a currency. David is the recipient of the United Nations Lighthouse award for Planetary Health, recipient of the Paris Climate Conference Sustaining community award, recipient of the Earnst and Young Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the Past President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and named the Entrepreneur Organizations Global Citizen.

In today’s episode, David shares how transformative it has been for him to create and work for The Plastic Bank. He also details what makes a compassionate leader focusing on the power of living in the present moment with awareness and consciousness, and that boldness is required too, despite the fear of failure, changing the world in a profound way.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:19] David talks about the influences that brought him where he is today.

[6:40] Whatever is hard for you, is there for you.

[8:16] How did Plastic Bank come to be?

[11:03] The problem is not the plastic, it’s the way we view it.

[11:11] How is Plastic Bank changing the way we view plastic?

[12:44] David shares examples in which The Plastic Bank has changed people’s lives.

[14:46] David talks about how he was transformed as a result of helping others.

[17:37] David speaks about The Plastic Bank’s partnerships and where the plastic goes.

[19:47] All the plastic that has ever been produced is almost all still on the planet.

[21:01] How is being a compassionate entrepreneur different from being any other entrepreneur?

[23:10] Being conscious, awake, and present is all that matters, anything else outside of right now is just an ego construct.

[25:35] What are the thriving organizations going to be like in the future?

[26:51] David talks about other organizations’ great work in making the world a better place.

[28:57] David shares some actionable steps to start moving towards changing people’s lives on this planet.

[31:16] David shares about the organizations that have the same focus as The Plastic Bank.

[32:45] What is something David is struggling with right now?

[34:40] Be bold enough to create a profound shift in society.

[36:17] Nate shares his key takeaways from an eye-opening conversation with David Katz.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Compassion Mindset

Learn more about  David Katz

Plastic Bank

Follow David Katz on Twitter

 

Tweetables:

“The perfect is the enemy of the good enough.” #oncompassion

“Whatever is difficult for you, is there for you to get stronger and capable of overcoming that challenge.” #oncompassion

“You can’t donate to end poverty.” #oncompassion

“Make solutions simpler so that more people can do them.” #oncompassion

“You have an immense amount of power being who you are and what you have.” #oncompassion