Superhero Leadership with Peter Cuneo

Episode 9 of Marvel Mindset takes listeners inside one of the most consequential entertainment deals in history: Disney’s $4.5 billion acquisition of Marvel. Peter Cuneo breaks down how Marvel’s revival, led in part by the success of Marvel Studios, positioned the company for a premium sale and strategic alignment with Disney. He explains the negotiations, the business logic behind the deal, and how both companies shared a “Wagon Wheel” approach to monetizing intellectual property across multiple platforms. The discussion offers a rare insider’s look at turnaround strategy, value creation, and the long-game thinking that reshaped the global entertainment landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo breaks down how Marvel approached the emerging Internet landscape while rebuilding from bankruptcy. From avoiding direct online sales to protect major retail partners, to encouraging fan-run sites as organic marketing, Cuneo reveals the strategic balance between innovation and discipline. He also highlights Isaac Perlmutter’s pivotal personal risk in restructuring Marvel’s debt, clearing the way for growth and a stronger board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Marvel Mindset, former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo breaks down the strategic reinvention of Marvel’s comic book publishing business—the “fountain of youth” that fueled new characters and franchises after bankruptcy. He reveals how smarter talent choices, reimagined storytelling, and expanded distribution rebuilt Marvel from the ground up, and how bold moves into video games and toys—through licensing, partnerships, and family-friendly positioning—set the stage for Marvel’s long-term growth into a global entertainment powerhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Marvel Mindset, former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo breaks down what truly defines a successful business turnaround, revealing why nine out of ten fail and what separates the rare wins from the rest. Drawing from his own experience across multiple recoveries, Peter explains why sustained growth in revenue, sales, and—above all—cash flow over three consecutive years is his ultimate benchmark, and how disciplined cost control combined with breakthrough advertising can drive growth even in the most challenging situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Marvel Mindset, former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo reveals the disciplined strategy that transformed Marvel from post-bankruptcy into a $4.5 billion acquisition by Disney. He breaks down how relentless cash management, a powerful licensing model with studios like Sony and Fox, and the bold launch of Marvel Studios — capped by the breakout success of Iron Man — reshaped the company into a global entertainment powerhouse and permanently changed the business of superheroes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover Marvel's fascinating journey from its Great Depression origins to its near-collapse in the 1990s. Explore the rise of iconic characters like Captain America and the collectibles boom that turned into a bust. Learn about the intense corporate battles involving giants like Ronald Perelman and Carl Icahn. Delve into the challenges of high-yield debt and poor acquisitions that led to bankruptcy. Plus, hear about the pivotal role of Peter Cuneo in Marvel's turnaround.

Discover how Peter Cuneo transformed Marvel from a shaky post-bankruptcy company into a billion-dollar empire. He shares his innovative 'wheel' model, where Marvel's vast intellectual property became the central hub for diverse monetization channels. Explore how strategic deals in gaming and film enhanced this framework, creating synergistic strength across various platforms. Learn about Cuneo's timely change model using 'pebbles', 'rocks', and 'boulders' to navigate challenges and build Marvel Studios into a powerhouse.

Episode 2 Description:In this episode of The Marvel Mindset, Peter Cuneo dives deeper into the defining principles of successful corporate turnaround leadership, using Marvel’s dramatic revival as a real-world case study. Drawing from his experience leading seven major recoveries across global industries, Peter breaks down the financial, strategic, and cultural factors that determine whether a struggling organization can truly rebound. With candid insights into Marvel’s own crisis years—marked by instability, misalignment, and a dire balance sheet—he illustrates how disciplined financial management, cultural integrity, and decisive leadership set the stage for one of the most celebrated business transformations of the modern era. This episode offers essential guidance for leaders navigating complexity, change, and high-stakes decision-making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 1 introduces "The Marvel Mindset" with former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo, who outlines the vision for the series and the leadership principles behind one of the most celebrated corporate turnarounds of the 21st century. Cuneo previews the strategies, decision-making frameworks, and his 28 essentials for superhero leadership that powered Marvel’s revival and eventual sale to Disney. Blending personal insight with practical guidance, he sets the stage for a season aimed at helping leaders across all fields strengthen their skills at a time when leadership development is more critical than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Patrice Gordon, a global authority on reverse mentoring and former airline finance leader, shares her inspiring journey from a loving Jamaican-British family to becoming a champion for inclusive leadership. She emphasizes the power of reverse mentoring in bridging generational gaps, highlighting how senior leaders can benefit from the insights of younger and underrepresented voices. The conversation also touches on the importance of psychological safety, effective communication, and the 32 essentials of transformative leadership for fostering dynamic workplace cultures.