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Jeremy Padawer
Chief Brand Officer, Jazwares / A Berkshire Hathaway Company (30,000 connection limit)
Jeremy Padawer, a prominent figure in the toy industry, is an Executive, Entrepreneur, Collector, Advisor, Investor, and Business Influencer.
Currently serving as the Chief Brand Officer of Jazwares, Padawer played a key role in the company's acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway, making Jazwares one of the world's largest toy and collectible companies.
Before his tenure at Jazwares, Padawer founded Wicked Cool Toys, which was later acquired by Alleghany Capital and eventually by Berkshire Hathaway.
With an extensive background in the toy industry, Padawer held significant positions at companies such as Jakks Pacific and Mattel, showcasing his expertise in brand management, marketing, and business development.
Padawer also founded JMP, an early internet startup, displaying his entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
A highly educated individual, Padawer holds degrees from prestigious institutions like Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Texas.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Padawer is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship by establishing the Jeremy Padawer Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Students at Vanderbilt University.
Actively involved in industry associations, Padawer serves on the Toy Industry Association Board of Directors and the Vanderbilt Business School Alumni Board.
Jeremy Padawer's career journey exemplifies his passion for the business of play, strategic leadership, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovative business minds.
Highlights
The best company is the next new company. The best leader is the next leader.
The best company is the next new company mentality - Underestimate at your peril. Keep the next company mentality and never underestimate what the world will be conjuring. Ask content distributors about the last 20 years disruption due to new players including internet, youtube, streaming services, social media; Ask today's retailers watching Fanatics Live, WhatNot, eBay Live, TikTok Live and others position themselves to be the next mass market live selling juggernauts on the heels of the online retail evolution. (PS - live selling will be a dominant force on the retail landscape in 2030, and it already is in Asia in 2024.)
The best leader is the next leader mentality - You have to look at your team as an upgrade because... well they are. And, this is the case 100% of the time in a world where innovation exists. Humans are only as smart and effective as the world allows us to be, and, sadly, we're fallible at the cellular level. Our turnover is absolute. The combination of our "sell by" date plus the reality of innovation driving collective intelligence means one thing... The best leader is the next leader. Do NOT overlook the upstart employee who has a question, a thought, an idea, an innovation. By definition, they have the opportunity to be an upgrade.
So, what does this mean -
If your business plan doesn't include evolution...
If your business plan has you leaning heavily into current ideas, brands, franchises...
If your business plan has you so focused on mastering where you've already achieved a PhD as an organization...
If your business plan doesn't include a succession of humans...
Then...
I recommend calling the CEO factory and ordering a new one. ❤️🤘
When I left Mattel in my late 20's, my team director said, "If you leave a billion dollar company at this point in your career, you might never work for one again."
And that was true for 20 years...
Until we built a billion dollar company.
Then we scaled into a multi-billion dollar company that sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 2022.
And as of TODAY, Berkshire Hathaway just achieved a ONE TRILLION dollar market cap.
Don't let others define you or your potential.
Only you, your hard work and good fortune, control that narrative.
