In this refreshing and candid session of the Ten Years Hence series, John Schroeder, Executive Vice President at Marmon Holdings, shared a rare behind-the-scenes look at innovation—not from the usual Silicon Valley tech pedestal, but through the gritty, patient, and deeply personal lens of chemical startups, consumer products, and industrial transformation. What emerged was not a pitch deck or a press release story, but a journey that showed how real innovation is built through uncertainty, failure, and relentless curiosity.
A Broader Definition of Innovation
Schroeder opened by challenging the narrow understanding of innovation as synonymous with flashy tech or billion-dollar unicorns. For him, innovation is about improving lives in tangible, lasting ways—whether through better water filtration or smarter retail design. It’s less about disruption for disruption’s sake and more about asking: “What could actually make this better?”
He described innovation as the “intersection of creativity, wisdom, and courage,” emphasizing that it’s not just about ideas, but the long, messy path of turning an idea into something that serves.
From Startup Dreams to Industrial Grit
Tracing his own path from startup founder to Marmon executive, Schroeder detailed the highs and lows of launching and growing a chemical company that transformed how people think about activated carbon. He recalled long nights in labs, scaling from grams to hundreds of pounds of product, and the emotional toll of financing a startup with personal and friends’ investments—underscoring just how high the stakes often are.
His honesty was disarming: “If I knew everything I would go through, I’m not sure I would have done it. But I’m glad I did.” It’s a powerful reminder that innovation often feels impossible until it’s done.
The Realities of Funding and Failure
A key theme was risk and resilience. Schroeder explained the hard math of venture capital: only one in ten startups truly succeeds. That means rejection is routine, progress is nonlinear, and even great products can falter without trust, timing, or traction. He also stressed the unique pressure of raising money from friends—people who believe in you personally, not just your pitch.
But credibility, he said, is the great equalizer. Winning over a major partner like Brita—after months of silence—transformed their trajectory. “Once you get a company like Dow or Brita to work with you, everything changes.”
Lessons for the Next Generation
Throughout the talk, Schroeder distilled his insights into timeless advice for students and entrepreneurs:
- Invest in yourself first. Writing and speaking are your most portable, scalable tools.
- Think portfolio, not perfection. In both careers and startups, don’t bet everything on one perfect opportunity.
- Start with what you know, but don’t stop there. Great innovation comes from asking better questions and seeing familiar problems differently.
He offered a humorous but instructive anecdote about a NASCAR team that won by going slower—their tires lasted longer, meaning fewer pit stops. The lesson? Sometimes, winning means breaking the rules everyone assumes are fixed.
Final Reflections
John Schroeder’s story is a masterclass in grounded innovation. Rather than glorify failure or glamorize the founder lifestyle, he honored the small, cumulative victories that turn novel ideas into enduring products. His message: true innovation is deeply human—fueled by trust, refined by doubt, and sustained by courage.
For anyone wondering what innovation will look like ten years hence, Schroeder offered a different—and refreshingly honest—vision: not a promise of instant disruption, but a challenge to build with clarity, purpose, and staying power.
