🧬 How We Scaled Nike Innovation from the Shoelace Room | Michael Newton (Part 3/4)

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In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Newton shares his journey from private equity and finance to launching a pay-per-mile auto insurance startup, leading groundbreaking innovation at Nike, and taking on the CEO role at Qorium, a biotech venture in the Netherlands. 

He reflects on building Nike Innovation, driving sustainable initiatives like Flyknit, and navigating the leap from corporate life to startup challenges—offering sharp insights into scaling big ideas, evolving as a leader, and staying true to mission-driven work across every stage of his career.

Key topics covered:

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast 

Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelanewton/

Website: http://www.qorium.com/

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ 

Website: https://www.excedr.com

Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_Dog

The Acquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/hermes

Air (Movie): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(2023_American_film)

HBS New Venture Competition: https://www.hbs.edu/newventurecompetition

Nike: https://www.nike.com/

Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/

Qorium: https://qorium.com/

On: https://www.on.com/

Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/

American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/

Hermès: https://www.hermes.com/

Matt Prince: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprince/

Michelle Zatlyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellezatlyn

Steve Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-p-wright/

Hannah Jones:https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joneshannah

Eric Sprunk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sprunk-9519511a3

Tom Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-clarke-b77b043

John Donahoe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-donahoe-8b591452

Howard Schultz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardschultz

00:00 Intro

01:27 From Finance to Entrepreneurship: Michael’s Journey Starts at Stanford

02:37 Early Startup Experience: Pay-Per-Mile Auto Insurance

05:20 The Oregon Gamble: Moving for the Insurance Venture

07:01 Unexpected Shift: Nike, Portland, and a New Career Path

08:53 Launching Nike Innovation: Building from the Shoelace Room

13:20 Inside Nike’s Innovation Culture: Global Scale and Flyknit

18:26 Leadership Lessons from Nike: Consumer Focus and Culture

20:51 Founder-Led to Professional Management: Nike’s Transition

23:51 Leadership Succession in Iconic Companies

28:16 When to Stay, When to Leave: Michael’s Exit from Nike

32:53 Biotech Leap: Becoming CEO of Qorium

36:19 Outro

The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.