Ep. 6: George Hawkins - A Study in Transformation
George Hawkins is one of those people who always elicits a smile from those who know him when he comes up in conversation, even when he's not there. The smile also comes when he is present, but the absence of the smile is telling. He is perhaps one of the most admired figures in the US water market, and possibly even in the global market, and for good reason. His work in turning around DC Water from the least trusted public entity in Washington DC to the most trusted in just eight years is one of the best business transformation case studies in history, and unfortunately, not enough people are aware of it. Since stepping down from DC Water, he has become a founder with Moonshot Missions, supporting under-resourced utilities in undergoing the same kind of transformation that he led at DC Water. He has learned the challenges and difficulties of bringing something new into the world. He is a practical, fun, energetic, insightful, sensible, and demanding leader to his core. It is truly a pleasure to welcome him to The Fundamental Molecule.
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Full show notes and links to mentioned content below.
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Today, the legendary George Hawkins delves into his exceptional life journey - from the early experiences that ignited his environmental passion to his leadership roles and the founding of his nonprofit. As you will hear, George's illustrious career is a testament to his transformative prowess, highlighted by the truly remarkable turnaround of DC Water. Currently the Founder and CEO of Moonshot Missions, he draws upon his vast experience to impart invaluable advice and wisdom on leadership, trust, the art of relationship-building, and making an impact upon the world.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 Start
0:49 Introduction
2:23 George’s professional journey
8:59 DC Water’s previous reputation
11:37 George’s thoughts on his first day at DC Water
15:20 The moment he knew he would succeed in his mission at DC Water
19:21 Rebranding DC Water
22:33 His Moonshot Missions idea
26:34 George’s lesson from running a large company to a small one
28:16 Building a team from the ground up
31:32 The challenges faced by small utilities
33:45 Moonshot Missions’ marketing
36:37 Having the greatest impact within the water sector
39:55 Entrepreneurship’s impact on George’s skills acquisition in the past, present, and future
45:08 Exceptional communication skills
49:01 Advice to emergent water entrepreneurs
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