A few years ago...

...I aimed to study the most innovative companies, not just what they built, but how they built it.
 
One company that fascinates me more than most?
Pixar.
 
The animation studio behind Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up, Inside Out, and a dozen others that made grown adults cry.
 
But Pixar isn’t just about animated films.
It’s a masterclass in creativity, culture, and courage.
 
Here’s what business leaders can learn from their story:
 
1. Don’t sell products. Tell unforgettable stories.
When Pixar pitched Toy Story, there was skepticism. Animated movies were supposed to be musicals with fairy tales, not buddy comedies with plastic toys.
But they didn’t pitch animation.
They pitched emotion.
Friendship. Insecurity. Belonging.
 
2. Creative genius is a team sport.
Pixar’s “Braintrust” was legendary. Directors would bring unfinished scenes to a room of peers not to get approval, but to get brutally honest feedback.
No sugarcoating. No ego. Just a shared obsession with making it better.
 
 3. Embrace risk (even if it means starting over).
Pixar once trashed entire storylines months into production.
(Toy Story 2 was nearly deleted from the servers!)
They weren’t afraid to blow things up if it meant a better outcome.
 
4. Culture is your competitive edge.
Steve Jobs once said that what made Pixar special wasn’t just the tech, it was the hallway conversations, the open collaboration, and the way they protected creative freedom at all costs.
 
Pixar doesn’t just make great films.
They built a system for storytelling, feedback, and fearless creativity.
That’s not magic.
That’s leadership.