Earlier this spring I had the chance to witness two of the “farewell talks” that Ed Catmull gave to the people of Pixar. Catmull, the company’s cofounder and long-time leader (and also president of Disney Animation Studios since the Disney acquisition of Pixar over a decade ago) had announced his retirement in late 2018. He chose to spend his last day on Pixar’s Emeryville campus not being celebrated by his colleagues but, instead, sharing thoughts about the challenges they would face in the years to come.
How Departing Leaders Can Pass Along Their Wisdom to Employees
Sometimes a creative act by one leader can inspire others. Ed Catmull, Pixar cofounder and long-time leader, did just that after announcing his retirement in late 2018. He chose to spend his last day on the company’s Emeryville campus not being celebrated by his colleagues but, instead, sharing thoughts about the challenges they would face in the years to come. First, Catmull provided Pixar employees with his well-informed perspective on the challenges ahead. Second, he gave them a launching point and maybe even the framework for future conversations, among themselves, about how Pixar will continue to thrive. And third, his talks honored how important this transition point was. In the history of a company, few moments are as pivotal as when a longtime leader departs. People can process the change better when it isn’t glossed over as nothing serious. While some CEOs might pop the champagne and let others sing their praises, you can go out differently. You can give the same gift Catmull gave to his teams to your own colleagues if you choose. You can share what you’ve learned.