What A Director Of Business Operations At An Entertainment Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Entertainment Industry
Colin, a Director of Business Operations at a Fortune 100 entertainment company, reveals that the reality of the industry differs greatly from its glamorous portrayal; it's "really hard work," demanding long hours and difficult business conversations, requiring a focus on "actual financial performance data" and research rather than solely creative aspects.
Hard Truths, Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Executive/Leadership, Motivational Stories
Advizer Information
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Colin Sommer
Director, Business Operations
Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
Chapman University
USC: Master of Communication Management; UCLA: Master of Business Administration
Advertising, Public Relations
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. It's really hard work and not all red carpets and glamour.
2. It's an actual business based on financial performance, research, and creative intuition.
3. Be prepared for long nights and difficult, non-creative business conversations
Transcript
What have you learned about business operations in the entertainment industry that you wish someone had told you before you started?
I wish I knew that entertainment is really hard work. It's not all red carpets, glitz, movie theaters, and stars.
It's an actual business based on financial performance data. Things need to be hits, and it's based on research.
There's a little bit of creative intuition involved, but it can be really energy-draining. You have to be prepared for long nights and difficult conversations.
These conversations aren't necessarily all creative; they're often more about business. What you see in the movies isn't really what it's like to work in Hollywood for real.
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