Ann Sarnoff (First Female CEO of Warner Bros.) on Breaking Barriers, Knowing Your Audience, and Why the Best of Hollywood Is Still Ahead

About this episode

Ann Sarnoff discusses her journey as the first female CEO of Warner Bros. and her impact on the entertainment industry.

Send Kevin a Text Message Ann Sarnoff, the first woman to serve as Chair and CEO of a major Hollywood studio and named one of Forbes' World's Most Powerful Women, joins host Kevin Goetz for a conversation about her path from a working-class upbringing in Massachusetts to the top of the entertainment industry. From her early days at Nickelodeon pioneering audience research, to guiding Warner Bros. through one of the most turbulent periods in Hollywood history, to her current role on the boards...

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Goetz

Guest: Ann Sarnoff

Topics covered

• breaking barriers
• Hollywood
• entertainment industry
• audience research
• leadership
• women in film

Keywords

• Ann Sarnoff
• Warner Bros.
• Hollywood
• female CEO
• audience research
• Kevin Goetz
• Forbes
• leadership
• entertainment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Warner Bros., Forbes, Nickelodeon

Places: Massachusetts

More episodes of Don't Kill the Messenger with Movie Strategist Kevin Goetz

• Jeff Annison & Paul Scanlan (Co-Founders, Legion M) on Democratizing Hollywood, Fan Ownership, and the Power of the Audience · June 3, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Mark Canton (Producer, Veteran Studio Executive) on Showmanship, Smelling the Circus, and Trusting Your Instincts · May 20, 2026 · 57 min
• Mark Johnson (Academy Award-Winning Producer of Rain Man) on Diverse Storytelling, Discovering Talent, and a Lifelong Passion for Filmmaking · May 6, 2026 · 44 min
• Stuart Ford (Film & Television Producer and Entrepreneur) on Independent Film, Risk Management, and the Future of Hollywood · April 1, 2026 · 55 min
• Ric Roman Waugh (Director, Writer, Producer) on Growing Up in the Stunt World, Filmmaking with Purpose, and Listening to the Audience · March 18, 2026 · 53 min
• Robert Wagner (Legendary Actor) on Eight Decades in Hollywood, the Studio System, and a Life in Film & Television · March 4, 2026 · 43 min