Top media and entertainment executives are signing on to participate in the Leadership Forums of the world’s first global Advanced Management Program in Media and Entertainment (Media AMP) – an intensive, “transformative” management program aimed at preparing seasoned media and entertainment executives for major executive roles. The Media AMP, scheduled to launch in January 2011, is jointly offered by industry thought leader, The Paley Center for Media, and top-ranked IESE Business School. One of the Media AMP’s key components, the Leadership Forums, gives program participants the unique opportunity to network and interact in a private, intimate and personal setting with top industry leaders and entrepreneurs who are changing the face of the business. These off-the-record conversations enrich the program’s academic content by giving participants an inside look at the management challenges, victories and strategies that industry players face on a daily basis.
The Media AMP Leadership Forums in 2011 will also include an exclusive tour of the NBC Newsroom to be led by NBC News President, Steve Capus.
The line-up of speakers so far (more are expected to sign on in the coming months) includes:
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Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Chief Executive Officer of Hearst Corporation Hearst Corporation is one of the world’s largest media conglomerates and owner of well-known brands that include Good Housekeeping; Cosmopolitan; Country Living; O, The Oprah Magazine; Esquire; Marie Claire; Seventeen and SmartMoney. Learn more about Frank Bennack. |
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Lauren Zalaznick President of NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Networks Lauren Zalaznick, President of NBC Universal Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, oversees Bravo Media, Oxygen Media, and iVillage. Learn more about Lauren Zalaznick. |
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Steve Capus President of NBC News Steve Capus is the No. 1 News Division executive at NBC Universal and is responsible for all aspects of America's highest-rated and most-watched network News division, as well as MSNBC and NBC News Channel. Learn more about Steve Capus. |
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Avner Ronen Founder and CEO of Boxee Named one of Rolling Stone's "Agents of Change" for 2009, Ronen is Founder and CEO of Boxee, the first "social" media center, whose free, open source, downloadable software is changing the way consumers experience media. Learn more about Avner Ronen. |
About the Media AMP – An Industry Game-changing Management Program to Prepare the Next Generation Leaders in Media and Entertainment
The IESE-Paley Center Media AMP is the first program of its kind for media and entertainment executives, and is set to be a game-changer, redefining how executives advance their careers in this industry. It is a postgraduate level program targeted at high-potential senior managers, business unit directors and VPs of media and entertainment companies from around the world.
The Media AMP is being positioned as a “must have” industry credential among aspiring media and entertainment leaders, and can become a crucial component for companies in their leadership succession planning. The program combines in-depth, enriching classroom and networking experiences with the flexibility of a professional development program that does not require years to complete. Media AMP participants will attend four modules over a 6-month period, each 5 days long. Three of the modules will be held in New York City, and one in Los Angeles. Top professors from IESE Business School will teach the program, and high-profile senior industry experts will be featured speakers.
Learn more about the program at: www.ime.edu/programs/media-amp
About IESE Business School and The Paley Center for Media
IESE Business School is based in Europe, with a newly opened Center in Manhattan, and is among the top-ranked business schools in the world. The Paley Center for Media is a global thought leader on the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.
“The Paley Center serves as a convener of industry executives and as a leader of discussions about the evolving media landscape — as such we are an ideal partner for IESE in this new venture," said Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. "The combination of the Paley Center’s close relationships within the media industry and IESE’s internationally respected business curriculum will make the Media AMP the ‘gold standard’ of executive education in this industry,” said Mitchell.
“We are thrilled to partner with The Paley Center for Media. They occupy a rare position of leadership in the media and entertainment industry and are well-attuned to the business education needs within the industry. Given their expertise and leadership position in the industry, it’s a fabulous alliance,” says IESE’s Dean, Jordi Canals.
IESE Business School is listed as # 1 in the full-time MBA rankings of The Economist (2009) and # 3 in global executive education in the Financial Times (2009). IESE also ranked #1 in Europe and #2 in the world in the Financial Times Executive Education Survey (2010) for its Open Programs. Based in Barcelona, Spain, IESE has a broad international reach, including a campus in Madrid, and a new state-of-the-art executive education and research center in New York City. With offices in Munich (Germany) and Sao Paulo (Brazil), IESE offers executive education programs in Germany, Brazil and China, and has helped develop business schools in 15 countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Media AMP is being presented by IESE Business School’s Institute for Media and Entertainment (IME). IME specializes in world-class business education for media and entertainment professionals. Its mission is to train media professionals to think like CEOs and to help them advance their careers.
The Paley Center for Media has offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. The Paley Center was founded in 1976 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry.
For program and admission inquiries, please contact Rich Sabreen, Media AMP Program Director, Managing Director, Institute for Media and Entertainment at IESE Business School, 646-346-8830, rsabreen@iese.edu.
For press inquiries, please contact Marie Oates, Director of Communications (US), IESE Business School, 646-742-2843, 617-290-7795 (cell), moates@iese.edu.
Upon Request, the following individuals will be available for comment:
Pat Mitchell
President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media
Christy Carpenter
Executive Vice President and COO of The Paley Center for Media
J. Max Robins
Vice President & Executive Director, Industry Programs of The Paley Center for Media
Eric Weber
Associate Dean and Director of IESE USA, IESE Business School
Mike Rosenberg
Media AMP Academic Director, IESE Business School
Rich Sabreen
IME Managing Director & Media AMP Program Director, IESE Business School
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More and more consumers increasingly live their lives online, prompting businesses to either invest in or to re-examine their Web and digital strategies. The Paley Center for Media, program partner of IESE/IME in the Advanced Management Program in Media and Entertainment, hosted a roundtable breakfast with Google’s VP of Americas Operations Dennis Woodside last March, to discuss Google’s role and outlook regarding media, advertising and the Internet. The event, sponsored by global management consulting firm booz&co., was moderated by Interactive Advertising Bureau CEO Randall Rothenberg.
Woodside was optimistic about the myriad opportunities on the Web, and noted that in many cases, the line between direct response advertising (wherein consumers are urged to respond immediately) and brand advertising (wherein the goal is to build brand awareness) is blurring. Google has had success in introducing a new car on YouTube, for example, as well as in getting people to consider alternative options in Google Search.
Local and mobile advertising are also potential goldmines, noted Woodside, especially as location-based services (e.g. mapping, social networking apps like “foursquare,” location-based search results, etc.) become more and more accessible through Web devices and therefore more and more popular with consumers. As economic models are just emerging, however, Woodside cautioned that not all ideas for monetization may necessarily pan out. Likewise, Woodside acknowledged the need for tighter measurements between the time consumers experience an ad and the time they take action — and one possible answer is through “behavioral targeting,” wherein measurable ads are delivered based on a user’s known interests and surfing habits.
Other discussion highlights included:
• Consumer privacy — Woodside believes self-regulation or allowing consumers to “opt out” makes sense.
• The future of journalism — Woodside noted that despite the disruption, consumer demand for news has increased, so the challenge is to monetize that demand using technology.
• An “open” vs. “closed” Web — Woodside claimed that neither approach is perfect, and that having both will create more opportunities for consumers, advertisers and content owners.
• Acquisition vs. innovation — Woodside said that the Web is moving far too fast for Google or any company to rely on just one approach.

Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Hearst Corporation, is the first among an impressive line of C-level speakers to confirm his participation in the Leadership Forums of IESE’s Advanced Management Program in Media and Entertainment (Media AMP), which starts in January 2011. Leadership Forums feature one-on-one conversations with major industry “movers and shakers” and executives who are changing the face of the business.
Hearst Corporation is one of the world’s largest media conglomerates and owner of well-known brands that include Good Housekeeping; Cosmopolitan; Country Living; O, The Oprah Magazine; Esquire; Marie Claire; Seventeen and SmartMoney. In addition to its publishing properties, the company is also engaged in a broad range of broadcasting, cable networking and diversified communications activities. As CEO of Hearst, Bennack oversees 200 separate businesses with approximately 20,000 employees. Under his leadership, Hearst Corporation launched with Disney-ABC three leading cable networks – A&E, History and Lifetime – plus its investments in the ESPN family of networks. On his watch, Hearst also launched some of its best-selling magazines and acquired 11 newspapers, including two of the U.S.'s largest.
Leadership Forums are a key element of the Media AMP, an intensive business education program presented by IESE with industry thought leader The Paley Center for Media. The Media AMP’s Leadership Forums give participants exclusive and unparalleled access to some of the top executives in the media and entertainment industry, enabling them to interact with these top industry leaders in a private, personal setting. Sessions include both “C-suite” leaders from traditional media companies, as well as innovative entrepreneurs who are helping redefine the new media landscape. The program leverages its New York City and Los Angeles locations to bring important industry players to each Leadership Forum.
The Media AMP Leadership Forums’ succeeding lineup of speakers will be announced soon. So stay tuned for updates.