Beyond Plastic | Phil Cohen on Simplifyber, Leadership, and the Future of Manufacturing

Send us Fan MailIn Episode #107 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, Sid Bensalah sits down with Phil Cohen, Co-Founder and COO of Simplifyber, U.S. Air Force veteran, MIT Sloan MBA, serial entrepreneur, and former semi-professional hockey player.This long-form conversation goes far beyond advanced materials. Phil shares how life is shaped by the questions we answer “yes” to, why luck follows commitment and work, and how hockey, military service, Afghanistan, MIT Sloan, China, startups, and fatherhood shaped his view of leadership.Phil breaks down the lessons he carried from sport and the Air Force into entrepreneurship, including the importance of clear roles, trust, care, fast decision-making, and what he calls expectations, accountability, direction, guidance, and attention. He also explains why entrepreneurship feels like a team sport, and why startup leadership can bring more sleepless nights than military service.The conversation also explores Simplifyber’s origin story with Maria Intscher-Owrang, the realities of fundraising, and how their cellulose-based liquid fiber molding platform aims to simplify manufacturing, reduce waste, localize production, and move sustainability from a marketing message to a performance outcome.Sid and Phil also discuss sports event waste, the future of localized manufacturing, America, community, family, fatherhood, and Phil's advice to young builders: when people get in your way, go around them.For full show notes, timestamps, and links, visit the episode page here: https://prezerosportstalk.com/podcast/beyond-plastic-phil-cohen-on-simplifyber-leadership-and-the-future-of-manufacturin/Support the showStay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk.Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations beyond the game, where sport meets leadership, faith, performance, purpose, identity, community, and impact.Listen, watch, and follow:Spotify Video: Watch full episodesYouTube: Subscribe and join the conversationX: @PreZeroSTInstagram: @PreZeroSportsTalkLinkedIn: Connect with the CommunityTikTok: @PreZeroSportsTalkSubstack: Sid BensalahGot feedback, a topic idea, or a guest suggestion?Send your thoughts here: https://prezerosportstalk.com/contact/Support the Podcast: https://prezerosportstalk.com/donate/