Entertainment has long been a central part of Justin Wineburgh’s career. As a lawyer, Wineburgh spent 16 years at Cozen O’Connor, where he built the firm’s global media and entertainment practice and was eventually named a partner. Having served as outside general counsel for Philadelphia media company Alkemy X, in 2016 he was tapped to take over the company, which was then struggling. Over the past five years, the company has experienced a turnaround thanks to Wineburgh’s leadership, and its work in visual effects has been used on popular Amazon Prime show “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and AMC hit “Fear the Walking Dead.” Adding branded content to the mix, including for companies like Google, Comcast and Bud Light, Alkemy X has flourished under Wineburgh.
Years as CEO: 6
Something he does as CEO to build high-level trust: I align my behavior with the expectations of others, creating positive relationships through cooperation, conflict resolution, honest feedback, and one-on-one communication. I demonstrate expertise and judgment through skill and experience, to make decisions in the best interest of the teams. I ensure consistency, always following through on commitments and promises.
How the pandemic has changed his leadership style: Covid forced urgent, honest, and iterative leadership. Navigating uncharted territory, making mistakes, and course correcting. I implemented daily, company-wide communications to transparently discuss challenges, remove speculation, reduce anxiety, and keep our teams focused. I aggressively managed cash, negotiating with stakeholders and vendors to protect relationships and maintain continuity.
When faced with a tough business decision, I … seek input everywhere, not just from my executive team – my family and trusted sources – and listen to “understand.” I recognize I can’t please everyone, but remove emotion to make the business decision. I give myself thinking time, but not too much, and then make the call, communicating appropriately.
A guiding philosophy he leads by: People are our most valuable asset. Therefore, my guiding principle is “employee-first.” Companies are typically “customer-first,” but I focus on our team. If I am first loyal to employees, employees reciprocate with loyalty and dedication to the business, its customers and projects. “Employee-first” empowers teams to identify and solve problems.
A business executive he admires: My mother, the CEO of our family, runs a tight ship! My wife, an incredibly brilliant businesswoman, is also my partner in the business of life. And, Jeff Bezos – from a humble background, always hungry, never settled and, like me, left a steady career to take a huge entrepreneurial risk.
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