Building paradigm-shifting ventures from the margins with Benjamin Rubin
What if your boldest vision is years ahead of its time—so far ahead that the world laughs you out of the room?
In this deeply personal and provocative conversation, Richard Medcalf speaks with Benjamin Rubin, serial entrepreneur and founder of both Sirenum and Insectika. Benjamin has a rare gift: creating businesses that challenge entrenched paradigms—from transforming the invisible workforce to reinventing how we feed the world. His journey is one of relentless vision, deep humanity, and surprising leadership insights.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- How to lead when your vision is misunderstood—and still get your team onboard
- Why a deep understanding of the problem beats brilliant solutions
- A simple but radical way to create true belonging and loyalty in your team
- The hidden cost of relying on money to motivate people—and what to do instead
- How Benjamin plans to scale impact without losing himself in the process
This one’s for the visionary leaders who’ve ever felt alone with a world-changing idea.
Resources/sources mentioned:
The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast(https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)
Sirenum (
SirenumSirenum Staff Management Software for Agencies and Hourly Workers
Sirenum Staff Management Software for Agencies and Hourly Workers
)
Insectika Biotech (
https://www.linkedin.com/company/insectika-biotechnologies-israel/)
Join the Crucible (https://xquadrant.com/crucible), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.
Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/
For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/benjamin-rubin
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Welcome to the Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast
01:44 Benjamin Rubin's Early Ventures and Challenges
02:25 The Mission and Vision of Insecta
03:22 Revolutionizing the Food System with Insect Meal
04:33 Challenges and Innovations in the Insect Meal Industry
05:36 The Importance of Understanding the Problem
06:42 Building and Leading a Visionary Team
15:05 Navigating Rejection and Persevering Through Challenges
21:16 Building High-Performing Teams with Meaning and Belonging
23:51 Questioning the Purpose of Life
24:45 Building a Team with Meaning and Belonging
25:33 Innovative Bonus Schemes and Interdependence
26:44 Finding Deep Meaning in Business
28:28 Understanding Employee Aspirations
38:05 Balancing Leadership and Personal Life
41:47 Final Thoughts and Future Plans