Layoffs have spread across the media landscape in 2020, as consolidation cut the number of positions available and the pandemic forced struggling companies to slash staffers. When the coronavirus pandemic ground to a halt productions, advertising spending, theatrical distribution, and other pillars of the media and entertainment industries, layoffs spread.
Months later, media clients, from early-stage startups to large multinational conglomerates, are starting to hire again, even amid the economic uncertainty. Many are now looking outside of media, to industries like technology, fintech, or consumer-facing brands for fresh talent. Media talent, meanwhile, are trying to reinvent themselves to land gigs at tech companies and brands that are creating content in-house.
Success in the media and entertainment industry is really about change, and help find where change is coming from, Business Insider identified some of the top recruiters in media and entertainment, including Egon Zehnder's own Calvin Yee.
Calvin Yee is well-connected in both the New York and Los Angeles media scenes. The head of Egon Zehnder's global media, entertainment, and sports practice he has worked with many corners of media, including print publications, digital-media outlets, studios from Hollywood to the UK, sports media, and more. Calvin Yee and Egon Zehnder both believe in advising the companies they work with and executives they coach equally, regardless size or stature.
The biggest shift he has seen amid the increased attention on diversity and inclusion is leaders starting to ask, not simply how they can check a box by bringing in a diverse CEO, but how they can be better leaders themselves. Exposés about the internal cultures at seemingly diverse content companies, like Refinery29, helped prompt that shift. "People are going deeper as human beings," he said. "This is less about, how do I fix it? And more about, how do you as a leader be a better leader?" Calvin Yee is involved in Egon Zehnder's diversity and inclusion practice, and believes in leading by example. Yee, who identifies as Chinese-American, said 73% percent of his media team is diverse.
Looking ahead, he is interested in content companies that strive to serve society as well as their audiences, by innovating in areas like education technology or fintech. "The media and entertainment space has a chance to touch audiences and what everyone is realizing is that we're wasting the opportunity," Yee said.
Full Story: Ashley Rodriguez, Meet 9 top recruiters in media to know right now, Business Insider (17 September 2020).
