Gene Pao

Gene is leading a new initiative for Harvardwood entitled Social Impact Entertainment, which focuses on developing film and television programs that intend to have social impact next to great entertainment value. In this role, Gene is creating a program which will consist of a speaker series, film screenings, workshops, and other activity to advance Harvardwood's role in shaping social change.

Gene is a 20+ veteran of the entertainment industry. He is currently SVP Digital Enterprises for Shout! Factory, an independent entertainment company that licenses, produces, markets, and distributes film and TV. Shout! Factory owns iconic properties such as Mystery Science Theater 3000, the Roger Corman library, as well as a new show on Quibi entitled Memory Hole with Will Arnett.

Prior to Shout! Factory, Gene spent 6 years at Disney and ESPN Media Networks, 4-1/2 years at Fox (first at Fox Interactive Media and then heading digital and international at FUEL TV) and two years at NBC Universal (first at Golf Channel and then heading digital businesses connected with the show The Biggest Loser). Gene also held shorter stints at YouTube on their sports partnerships team, and at Viant, where he developed digital strategies for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Gene supports a number of environmental causes, most notably through his volunteer work with Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to coastal protection, where he recently served as Treasurer for the Los Angeles chapter. As a Core Volunteer, Gene is engaged with a number of environmental campaigns including Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Restaurants, and Drilling is Killing. Gene is part of Surfrider's Climate Committee and is a member of Al Gore's Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps.