The Tim Ferriss Show

#406: Bob Iger — CEO and Chairman of Disney

Jan 16, 2020

Bob Iger, the visionary CEO of Disney, shares insights from his transformative leadership journey. He dives into the groundbreaking acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and others that reshaped Disney's landscape. Iger discusses the strategic move to Disney+, emphasizing the need to adapt to new technologies. He also reflects on the balance between corporate structure and creativity, the importance of transparent communication in negotiations, and the pivotal lessons learned over his tenure. His personal anecdotes provide a fascinating glimpse into the magic behind one of the world's most beloved brands.

01:33:11

Episode guests

Bob Iger

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Highlights

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Taking risks and embracing new technology can lead to success in deal-making and innovation.

Incorporating exercise into daily routines promotes health, reflection, and physical appearance.

Preparation and research when meeting new people can establish connections and lead to productive outcomes.

Deep dives

The Power of Mentors in Risk-Taking

Rune Arlege, Tim's former boss, served as a mentor and taught him the value of taking risks. Rune's willingness to try new things and his belief in applying all energy and ingenuity to accomplish tough tasks influenced Tim's approach to negotiations and deal-making throughout his career.

Efficient and Effective Negotiation

01:56

How Do You Increase Your Luck Surface Area?

04:10

What's the Preparation Process for Meeting New People?

02:51

Anger, I'm Very Organized and Quite Nice.

03:28

Intro

2min

Nutritional Powerhouses: AG1 and Beat Elite

6min

Disney's Transformation Under Iger

13min

Navigating Challenges and Mentorship in Sports Broadcasting

18min

Boosting Luck Through Fitness

6min

Nostalgia and Fitness: A Journey Through China

4min

Pizza Passion and Professional Prep

7min

Optimism, Anger, and Personal Growth

20min

Navigating the Non-Linear Path to Success

12min

10.

Curated Finds and Endurance Insights

6min

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Robert A. Iger (@RobertIger) is the steward of one of the world's largest media companies and some of the most respected and beloved brands around the globe. Since becoming CEO in 2005, Iger has built on Disney's rich history of storytelling and innovation with the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012) and 21st Century Fox (2019), and the landmark opening of Disney's first theme park and resort in Mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.

Always one to embrace new technology, Iger has created an ambitious direct-to-consumer strategy that leverages Disney's unparalleled creative content across new platforms, including the new Disney+ streaming service, ESPN+, Hulu, and Hotstar.

Iger serves on the boards of the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Bloomberg Philanthropies. He is a graduate of Ithaca College.

His new autobiography is titled The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, which offers stories and lessons about structuring, dealmaking, leadership, and optimizing fear metabolism.

Please enjoy!

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.