Claire Skillen on Climate-Aware Supply Chains, Human-Centered Processes, and Leading with Humility

A vulnerable LinkedIn post about mental health first connected host Liz Sweigart and Claire Skillen. One cold DM turned into a long phone call—and a friendship built on systems thinking, honest reflection, and a shared belief that people belong at the center of every process. In this Past the Profile episode, Claire—newly appointed President & CEO of Planet-Based Foods Global (PBFG)—traces a pivot from “food products” to food systems: vertical gardens and drying units (PBF Tech), direct-trade supply chains, and community-first operations aimed at climate adaptation and food security. She and Liz dig into leading publicly while learning out loud and the everyday practices that make reflection possible when the calendar won’t slow down. Highlights “Food alone isn’t enough” → why PBFG is becoming a holding company focused on resilient, human-centered systems. Safer spaces vs. safe spaces → normalizing mistakes, modeling vulnerability, and using trust to let ideas bloom. Bridging tasks to purpose → connecting a single tech profile or spreadsheet to water savings, farmer impact, and portfolio choices. Boundaries & energy audits → what to say no to and five-minute resets (breathwork, journaling, water). Measures of success → teams that speak up, align work to their own goals, and make space to integrate learnings.