Leadership in Motion: Top Leaders Shaping the Entertainment Industry

Leadership in Motion: Top Leaders Shaping the Entertainment Industry

Leadership in Motion: How Top Leaders Are Shaping Entertainment Today

Imagine you’re watching your favorite show. You’re hooked by the drama, but behind the scenes, another kind of suspense unfolds—leaders making bold moves that shape what you get to watch, listen to, and love.

Leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about setting the tone, making change, and taking risks. And right now, the entertainment industry is buzzing with stories of visionaries writing new playbooks for success.

The Executive Power Play: Alliance Wins with Oram at the Helm

Alliance Entertainment, a powerhouse in distributing movies, music, and collectibles, just made a move that’s turning heads. Robert Oram, a seasoned executive from Paramount, is now the company’s new Executive Vice President, tasked with turbocharging their home entertainment arm. The industry’s watching: with physical media making a surprising comeback, Oram steps into a leading role—not just managing old-school DVDs and vinyl, but also steering the business toward exclusive content and next-gen fan experiences. “As demand continues to grow for premium film formats, I see a tremendous opportunity to build on the company’s leadership,” Oram says. Leadership, in this case, isn’t just about being in charge—it’s about seeing a wave before it crests and riding it better than anyone else.

The Open Letter: Leaders Using Their Voices for Change

Leadership can also be about raising your hand—even when it’s uncomfortable. Over 400 entertainment leaders, from producers to agency heads, recently signed an open letter calling out misinformation and harmful rhetoric around the Israel-Palestine conflict. Names like Keetgi Kogan Steinberg, Blair Kohan, Sherry Lansing, and Julianna Margulies put their reputations on the line, urging the industry to confront damaging incitement. This move is a reminder that leaders don’t just manage; they set moral and ethical barometers for their communities. In a business often criticized for prioritizing profit over principle, collective action like this shows that real leadership means standing for something—even if it’s unpopular.

The Women in Entertainment Summit: A Stage for New Voices

Leadership is also about making room for others. The Women in Entertainment (WIE) annual summit is coming soon to the iconic Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. This isn’t your average coffee meet-up. WIE 2025 is bringing together industry heavyweights—Kathy Bates, Jennie Snyder Urman, Erin and Sara Foster, Sheila Ducksworth, and more—for conversations that could shape the future of the business. The summit is a case study in how leadership can be cultivated by sharing the spotlight, listening to new voices, and fostering the next generation. Think of it as a masterclass in giving others the mic—literally and metaphorically.

Workplace Horizons 2025: Leadership in the Time of Change

You can’t talk leadership without considering the nuts and bolts of workplace culture. Recently, over 500 representatives from 260 companies gathered for Workplace Horizons 2025, a major event focused on the legal and cultural challenges facing media and entertainment workplaces. The message was simple but urgent: leadership today isn’t just about talent and vision. It’s about building workplaces where people feel safe, heard, and motivated. In an industry known for long hours and high pressure, forward-thinking leaders are reimagining what it means to guide a team through rapid change.

The Big Picture: What Makes a Leader Stand Out?

So, what do these stories have in common? In a world of streaming wars, hashtag activism, and shifting workplace norms, leadership is more than just a corner office. It’s about:

  • Vision: Seeing around corners and being ready for what’s next.
  • Courage: Speaking up, even when it’s risky.
  • Collaboration: Lifting others up and making space for new talent.
  • Ethics: Setting a moral compass for your team and industry.

In entertainment, as in any business, the best leaders are those who know when to step forward and when to step aside—making room for everyone’s voice to be heard. Whether it’s launching a new product, signing an open letter, hosting a summit, or rethinking workplace culture, today’s leaders are writing the script for the next chapter of entertainment.


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