Masters of Scale

Disney’s Bob Iger: How acquisitions become an ecosystem, part 1

Nov 23, 2022

Bob Iger, the former CEO of the Walt Disney Company, shares his insights on strategic acquisitions that shaped the entertainment giant. He discusses the pivotal acquisition of Pixar, which revitalized Disney's animation and helped it compete in a new era. Iger emphasizes creating a diverse ecosystem that maintains cultural integrity through mergers, including Marvel and Lucasfilm. He also reflects on the emotional complexities behind negotiating with George Lucas for Lucasfilm, honoring legacy while paving the way for new storytelling adventures.

40:00

Episode guests

Bob Iger

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Building a Global Brand to Last

01:08

Pixar Deal - I'm Going to Tell You the Truth.

02:15

The Subtle Negotiation that Led to Disney's Acquisition of Star Wars

01:41

The Collegial Means of Behaving

02:14

Intro

2min

Revitalizing Disney: The Pixar Strategy

4min

Building an Ecosystem Through Strategic Acquisitions

5min

The Disney Effect: Merging Worlds

11min

Building a Stronger Brand Through Strategic Acquisitions and Mentorship

3min

Disney's Strategic Acquisitions

18min

The Emotional Negotiation Behind a Legendary Acquisition

4min

For any distinctive brand or business, it can be a challenge to expand reach without diluting what makes you special. No one has a keener understanding of this issue than Bob Iger, executive chair and former CEO of the Walt Disney Company. In this special two-part episode, Iger takes us through how he supercharged the House of Mouse while acquiring Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox. The trick, he explains, is setting up a diverse ecosystem that preserves the culture, methods, and core talent of both old parts and new parts – and fitting them together in ways that make everyone more successful.

Read a transcript of this interview at: https://mastersofscale.com/bob-iger/

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