Ryan Kavanaugh, the man behind Proxima Media and Relativity Media, is not your average CEO. He is a proficient, productive, and esteemed executive in the entertainment industry history. Entrepreneurs who want to be successful like him consider him as a motivation. He also shares his stories to serve as an inspiration to others.
The beginning of a career
Mark Canton approached Ryan Kavanaugh for help with an MBO. Canton was the former co-chairman among Sony and former EVP at Warner Brothers. Canton and Kavanaugh completed the MBO and worked daily together on other stuff. Kavanaugh then learned there was something missing. There was a giant hole in the business. Streaming and technology seem to advance fast but finance is getting nowhere. The very old model is not helping the industry at all. Kavanaugh realized there was a huge need for financial discipline and structured deals.
A typical productive day
Kavanaugh starts his busy day with a twenty-minute meditation. Responding to mails, texts, and social media messages comes next. Then a call to other countries to address issues, if there are any. As a father, he does not neglect his duties to his young son. They talk about the day ahead over breakfast together in bed. Kavanaugh then drops the child off at school before he heads to his office.
He prioritizes global tasks among others. These are business plans with a deadline, contracts with a timeline, and pending deals. Meeting with the head of creative and of each department is a must. They go over projects and various creative and financial decisions. He ends his day by having dinner with his son.
He brings ideas to life by commitment, followed by thought, strategy, and execution. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to do the same. The undying commitment of Ryan Kavanaugh is what made a huge difference to the industry.
