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

sirenum.com

 )

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