Grit

#214 Former CEO Hulu & WarnerMedia Jason Kilar: No Labels

Oct 28, 2024

01:30:24

Snipd AI

Jason Kilar, former CEO and co-founder of Hulu and WarnerMedia, reflects on his remarkable career in media. He shares his early obsession with Disney and the invaluable lessons learned during his time at Amazon. Kilar discusses the inception of Hulu, highlighting the innovative spirit needed in today’s streaming landscape. He also tackles the idea of identity, exploring how labels can limit personal growth. With insights on leadership and navigating challenges, Kilar emphasizes the importance of resilience and staying true to one’s values.

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Recognizing the importance of time leads to prioritizing meaningful relationships and impactful work over superficial achievements in leadership.

Navigating personal and professional challenges is critical for effective leadership, requiring resilience and candid communication for team management.

A passion for storytelling can drive innovative approaches in media, maintaining core values while adapting to technological advancements and consumer demands.

Deep dives

The Value of Time

Recognizing the limited nature of time can have a profound impact on one’s priorities and choices. It serves as a reminder to focus on what truly matters rather than getting bogged down by trivial concerns. This realization can drive individuals to spend their time more wisely and on meaningful endeavors, highlighting the difference between temporary positions of power and lasting personal fulfillment. Ultimately, it encourages a perspective shift towards valuing personal relationships and impactful work over superficial achievements.

Intro

2min

Reflections on Entrepreneurship and the Joy of Building

3min

The Magic of Storytelling

10min

The Magic of Theme Parks: Disney vs. Universal

8min

A Journey Through Amazon's Early Days

14min

Navigating the Entertainment Industry

13min

The Birth of Hulu: Innovation in Streaming

21min

The Dichotomy of Labels and Personal Values

3min

Reflections on Leadership and Bold Decisions

16min

Guest: Jason Kilar, former CEO & co-founder of Hulu and former CEO of WarnerMedia

When Jason Kilar was a child, he was obsessed with Walt Disney — not just as a filmmaker or the creator of Disneyland, but as an entrepreneur. He started his career at the Walt Disney Company (where else?) but then got his first opportunity to help build something new when a young startup entrepreneur from Seattle visited his business school classroom. Most of Jason’s classmates predicted the failure of this startup, Amazon.com, which elicited “this awesome laugh, the Jeff Bezos trademark laugh.” How a leader reacts to criticism or doubts, Jason learned, says a lot about their conviction and intelligence.

Chapters:

(01:08) - Bing Gordon and John Doerr
(04:11) - Warner Bros.
(06:12) - Walt Disney
(11:10) - Working at Disney
(14:32) - What makes it special
(18:31) - Meeting your heroes
(20:06) - “Walt’s folly,” Disneyland
(22:45) - Harvard and Amazon
(25:09) - Meeting Jeff Bezos
(29:10) - “Help people understand Amazon exists”
(33:25) - Amazon’s culture
(38:07) - What Warner Bros. makes
(40:55) - Obscurity and relevance
(45:53) - Feeling the lows
(50:09) - Launching Hulu
(53:36) - NewCo or ClownCo?
(59:13) - Over-communication
(01:03:14) - The future of TV memo
(01:06:46) - Innovator’s dilemma
(01:08:57) - No labels
(01:14:04) - Unfinished business
(01:16:22) - Staying present
(01:20:26) - The theatrical window
(01:26:19) - What’s next?

Mentioned in this episode: Amazon, The Matrix, Star Wars: A New Hope, Disney World, Diane Disney Miller, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Michael Eisner, Universal Studios and Harry Potter, Disney University, Jeffrey Rayport, Barnes & Noble, Joel Spiegel, David Risher, Joy Covey, Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury, Andy Jassy, Brian Birtwistle, Jim Kingsbury, Vessel and Verizon, HBO, Friends, Hogwarts Legacy, Sony, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Paramount, AT&T, Discovery, Richard Tom, Kara Swisher, Fox, YouTube and Google, Saturday Night Live, Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, Bob Iger, Andy Rachleff and Benchmark, CBS, Miracle on 34th Street, Marissa Mayer and Yahoo, Rony Abovitz and Magic Leap, House of the Dragon and Industry, Dune, Christopher Nolan, and the TSA.

Links:

Connect with Jason

Connect with Joubin

Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

This episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

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