Concordia’s newest addition to the Leadership Council is Nate Morris, Founder & CEO of Rubicon, the Kentucky-based software platform that provides smart waste and recycling solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. Mr. Morris, who hails from Kentucky, brings to Concordia a background across the public and private sectors and a strong track record of bringing innovation to an industry unchanged for centuries.
Mr. Morris was nominated to Concordia’s Leadership Council by Leadership Council Member Gen. (Ret.) David H. Petraeus, former Director of the CIA and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. Below, the two take a deep dive into that leadership role, Concordia’s partnership with Rubicon, and what lies ahead for Concordia.
1) Concordia is hosting its first-ever U.S.-focused summit in Lexington, Kentucky, with both in-person and digital programming, from April 7-8, 2022. For an organization rooted in building a global community to confront global challenges, this inaugural summit marks a pivotal moment for both Concordia and for Kentucky. What do you see as the significance of hosting this summit in Lexington, and what do you hope to achieve in the short and long term?
First of all, I want to say what a pleasure it was to meet you. I first became aware of you when I was at Princeton, before the surge in Iraq. You are such a revered figure there, and I became intrigued by your presence. Secondly, allow me to thank Concordia for hosting this important summit in Lexington. Kentucky is at the center of some of this country’s most pressing issues and certainly at the geographic center of the country, so it is my hope that here in November we will get to the heart of the challenges now confronting our nation. In the short term, I believe this inaugural summit will highlight the challenges middle America faces in terms of income inequality, lack of access to economic and educational resources, and a growing disconnect with communities on either coast. In the long term, I believe this summit will open doors for Lexington and Kentucky, and demonstrate that here in Kentucky, we have all of the ingredients to make a major contribution to not only the economic future of America, but also its intellectual future through our world-class institutions like the University of Kentucky.
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2) Concordia is dedicated to building cross-sector partnerships for social impact. You are the founder of an exceedingly successful private sector company, and I am curious why Concordia’s mission resonates with you? Beyond that, why is it so important for the private sector to engage with governments and nonprofits, and how can we get more companies to do so?
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Rubicon was founded with the very simple-sounding mission of ending waste. That sounds easy, but the reality is there is waste everywhere. Not only in terms of the waste we generate in our homes and businesses, but also waste in terms of wasted money and time. Nowhere is this more true than in government, where waste is both pervasive and difficult to eradicate. At Rubicon, we work with governments around the globe and have demonstrated great success in bringing free-market principles to bear on the challenges facing municipal governments in terms of reducing waste, streamlining processes, and saving taxpayers money. There is great opportunity in government for businesses that can bridge the divide, and great opportunity for governments that allow business to help steer these conversations.
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3) Concordia’s Leadership Council plays a critical role in shaping programming and driving the direction of Concordia’s initiatives. What do you hope to accomplish in your new position on the Leadership Council, and how will this position help you to bring Rubicon’s mission of a sustainable waste-free future to a larger audience as part of Concordia’s initiatives?
As someone who has built a billion-dollar-plus business working with policy-makers and business leaders alike, I am familiar with the challenges facing an organization built on cross-sector partnerships. I am excited for the opportunity to share my voice and experience with Concordia on the Leadership Council, and to help demonstrate that business leaders can also be great world leaders. If, in the process, I can also demonstrate to the various entities represented by Concordia that better outcomes are available to those who reach for a more sustainable future, through sharing our successes at Rubicon, then I would consider that a job well done.
