From the ballooning value of sports television rights to the endless stream of Snapchat channels pushing content off the silver screen and into your pocket, the game done changed. This year’s crop of dynamic entrepreneurs and creative leaders (so strong we had to include 11) represent that shifting dynamic. From Fox Sports and CBS to The Ringer and Loot Crate, the following executives are creating content and controlling the message across multiple playing fields simultaneously.
CHARA LYNN AGUIAR [28]
Vice President, Strategy & Content
FOX Sports
Education UCLA
Residence Marina del Rey
Notable Projects New positioning strategy for FS1, key involvement on FOX Sports Ad Sales Upfront roadshow, developed long range planning and sales partnerships.
Big Break Working in research at ABC right out of college—that experience equipped me with an understanding of this business that has proven indispensable
Personal Passions Travel, tacos, UCLA, and Bay Area sports
On the Horizon Working with our sales partners and producers to build innovative opportunities for monetization as we launch a new slate of programming for FS1
BRIANNA BENNETT [33]
Vice President, Drama Development
CBS
Education Ohio University
Residence Los Angeles
Notable Projects Doubt (CBS), Empire (FBC), Sleepy Hollow (FBC), Red Band Society (FBC), Gang Related (FBC), Almost Human (FBC), The Following (FBC)
Big Break Landing an assistant job at BWCS
Personal Passions Hanging out with my toddler, hot yoga, reading, friends, and family
On the Horizon Excited for our latest pilot Doubt to debut on CBS, and jumping into development for 2017-2018!
MICHAEL BLANK [29]
Business Development Executive
CAA
Education Yale University
Residence Los Angeles
Notable Projects I’ve collaborated with a lot of our amazing clients, including Tom Hanks, Demi Lovato, Gordon Ramsay, Jason Statham, and Buster Posey, on their mobile projects.
Big Break Definitely one of the coolest I’ve had was getting a shout out from Tom Hanks on Late Show with David Letterman.
Personal Passions I love traveling and exploring new places with my girlfriend and spending time with my family in San Diego.
On the Horizon I’m moving up the leaderboard in the head-to-head chef duels in Gordon Ramsay’s new game with Glu, Gordon Ramsay DASH! It’s super fun and addicting!
GREGORY CARUSO [24]
Filmmaker
Bristol Pictures
Education USC
Residence Los Angeles
Notable Projects “Making the American Man” – a documentary about American made goods for men (available on Netflix in July.) And two shorts – “GLOVES” and “Flock of Four.”
Big Break I’m not sure I’ve had my “big break” yet. I like to think that’s around the corner – and maybe always will be.
Personal Passions Exploring history. Anything from early to mid-20th century – people, paintings, music, sports, design, decor, and architecture. And of course – my corgi, Clarence.
On the Horizon We’re in post for a documentary about six kids from Watts and in development for a 1955 coming-of-age, jazz film about four best friends.
CHRISTOPHER DAVIS [30]
CEO
Loot Crate
Education Claremont McKenna College
Residence Los Angeles
Notable Projects Loot Crate & Gamer Food
Big Break Launched Loot Crate at a Hackathon in Los Angeles, and quickly grew the company to over 500,000 subscribers in three years.
Personal Passions Ping pong, podcasts, binging HBO and Netflix, and travel
On the Horizon Lots of exciting partnerships with leading the entertainment and pop culture brands. Finding exciting new ways to deliver Loot to fans online and offline!
RONI ESHEL [32]
Founder & CEO
goFlow
Education IDC Herzliya Israel
Residence Venice Beach
Notable Projects Transition from a former Israeli pro surfer and champion to the founder & CEO of a company
Big Break Moving to Los Angeles 3 years ago and turning goFlow from an idea into a real business with outside investors like Neil Dana (GoPro) and Go4It
Personal Passions Surfing, yoga, traveling, paddle boarding, snowboarding, music, and good food
On the Horizon Launch of an on-demand service in which users can choose and schedule sessions with local skateboarding, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, and surfing experts in their areas
CHRIS RYAN [38]
Executive Editor / Co-host
The Ringer / After the Thrones
Education Emerson College
Residence Los Angeles
Notable Projects Executive Editor of The Ringer, co-host of the The Watch podcast, and HBO’s After the Thrones
Big Break Meeting Bill Simmons at the Marcus Dupree 30 for 30 party in New York.
Personal Passions When you work at a site that covers sports, pop culture, and tech, your passions are pretty well taken care of.
On the Horizon Helping to grow The Ringer, and continuing work on The Watch podcast.
RUSSELL SILVERS [36]
Senior VP, Global Partnerships
AEG
Education USC
Residence Westchester
Notable Projects I oversee the operations and retention business in North and South America for the Global Partnerships team, which generates over $200 million in annual revenue.
Big Break Personally, my biggest break was meeting my wife. Professionally, establishing my career at a global company that values an entrepreneurial mindset and out-of-the-box thinking.
Personal Passions I spend my free time with my wife and three children – Grace, Gavin, and Georgia. Being “dad” is the most rewarding job.
On the Horizon Leading the global partnerships team to achieve record-setting revenue numbers for our business globally and accomplishing the “best year ever” for our retention business
LINDSAY NICOLE WATERHOUSE [35]
Senior VP, Public Relations
NCLUSIVE
Education Temple University
Residence West Hollywood
Notable Projects The Isaiah Austin Dream Again Campaign, Mike Conley Jr.’s free agency, Dwight Freeney’s career (from the field to broadcasting), signing top 5 NFL draft pick Jalen Ramsey.
Big Break I worked at a sports agency for 3 years and had about eight professional athletes under my account. When I decided to leave, six out of the eight joined me in pursuing my passion and vision.
Personal Passions Family is everything to me; without them I would not be where I am today. Dogs, sports, yoga, pizza, ocean, reading, yellow starbursts, and my guilty pleasure is reality TV.
On the Horizon Taking the lead as the head of sports at NCLUSIVE and continuing to be the driving force behind individual athletes, helping establish their brands and building their careers away from the playing field
KAI D. WRIGHT [31]
Global Consulting Director
Ogilvy & Mather
Education University of Chicago (B.A), Columbia University (M.S.)
Residence Los Angeles and NYC
Notable Projects Launching entertainment startup accelerator Smashd Labs and tech/culture media company Smashd.co
Big Break Leading communications and public relations for P. Diddy’s cable television network.
Personal Passions Travel, photography, music, teaching, technology, movies, hiking, and running
On the Horizon Teaching a grad course at Columbia University on how to make dollars from sense and introducing more hustle into tech and culture
ZAC ZABNER [35]
Founder & President
InCharge Entertainment Marketing
Education Indiana University
Residence Brentwood
Notable Projects Created an interactive advertising project where we built a replica of the church featured in marketing materials for AMC’s new hit program Preacher. We toured the country with the 15-ton, 30-foot upside down church and spent a week each at SXSW 2016, LA’s Hollywood Blvd., and Times Square respectively
Big Break The head of marketing and partnerships at Time Warner Cable took notice of InCharge Entertainment very early on as a young experiential and non-traditional creative strategy shop that also executed.
Personal Passions I am a proud “Uncle of the decade” to two nephews and a niece. I enjoy softball, football, golf, and MMA. I make sure to watch Jeopardy! nightly. Also appreciate live music, travel, and culture.
On the Horizon Growing the company presence on the West Coast, specifically LA, where we are launching an experiential production and fabrication company for major projects and innovative installations.
