Ep.21 / Rob Wade, CEO Fox Entertainment
Pursuing what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for:
Rob Wade is CEO of Fox Entertainment, one of the world’s most recognizable media brands and a prolific content producer. He is responsible for the company’s three key business units: FOX Television Network, inclusive of its linear platform and streaming partnerships with Hulu and FOX One; FOX Entertainment Studios, which encompasses in-house scripted and unscripted studios, Studio Ramsay Global in partnership with Gordon Ramsay, animation house Bento Box Entertainment and independent film label Tideline; and worldwide content sales and distribution unit FOX Entertainment Global.
I’ve known Rob since University, and remember when he started in media as a runner at Virgin Radio in the UK. As I think about his career trajectory, I am blown away to see him now as the head of global corporation working with the most famous talent and IP in the world.
This conversation included:
Overview of the media and entertainment landscape
The impact of technologies like the internet that led to streaming and a proliferation of content
AI and the "democratization" of content creation
Fox’s strategic response to a dynamic, fast-changing landscape
Career path, and success built on ‘hard work and luck’
Approach to working with big egos and personalities in entertainment
Insights and advice including getting into media, and transitioning into a first CEO role
Ikigai - a Japanese concept that reflects his view on finding happiness as achieving a balance between what you love, what you're good at, what the world needsand what you can be paid for.
Rob was professionally jealous of David Attenborough, whom he thinks embodies ‘Ikigai’ through his phenomenal work in natural history documentaries that benefit the world, that he obviously loves working on, and happens to be well-compensated and admired for.
Check out https://www.fox.com/
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