Presents: The Intersection of Business and Media

Join us for a virtual panel conversation with four incredible speakers: Whitney Baxter (MBA '11), Tracey Bing (MBA '01), Gene Pao (MBA '97), and Larry Wasserman (MBA '04). HBS Students and current Harvardwood members can attend the event for free. HBS Students, please email admin@harvardwood.org for a discount code!

WHITNEY BAXTER

Whitney Baxter is senior vice president and head of strategy and group enterprises for SHOWTIME / MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks ("MTVE"). As head of strategy & group enterprises, he plays a key role in setting a strategic path, driving business operations, and leading ancillary businesses for MTVE. Baxter joined the team from Goldman, Sachs & Co’s Technology, Media, and Telecom Investment Banking Group where he principally worked with the firm’s entertainment, media, and internet clients on M&A and financing transactions. He also worked in Digital Business and Partner Development at iHeartMedia. Baxter holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB from Harvard College.

TRACEY BING

Tracey Bing is the Head of Content at Rideback Rise, a content accelerator founded by leading Hollywood producer Rideback that focuses on discovering and nurturing original BIPOC film and television creators. An active independent producer, Bing has over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry including stints as a studio executive at Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Most recently, she produced the hit Netflix romantic comedy NAPPILY EVER AFTER, starring Sanaa Lathan. Prior to that, she developed, packaged, and executive produced the critically acclaimed film SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU. Bing followed that by executive producing the sci-fi thriller PROSPECT starring Pedro Pascal.

Through her shingle Badabing Pictures, Bing is developing a number of film and television projects including a feature adaptation of FABULATION, a play by Pulitzer prize-winner Lynn Nottage, for Focus Features; an untitled, female-driven comedy partially set in Africa for Netflix; a feature adaptation of the Scottish short 1745 about two African slaves on the run in the Scottish Highlands - for the UK’s See-Saw Films; a U.S. remake of the Argentinian soccer comedy EL FUTBOL O YO, set up at AGC Studios; and a variety of NAPPILY EVER AFTER spinoffs.

Early in her career, Bing was VP, Production and Acquisitions at Warner Independent Pictures, where she was involved in Oscar-winner MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, and the George Clooney-starrer GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, THE PAINTED VEIL, and BEFORE SUNSET. Prior to WIP, Bing was Director of Acquisitions/Co-Productions at Paramount Classics. Bing has served as a senior consultant for a number of media/entertainment corporations including Entertainment One, Fox International, PBS, Warner Premier, and Liberty Media/Wananchi (Kenya). Bing got her start in the entertainment business as a development and production executive on films such as FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, THE PALLBEARER, GRIDLOCK'D, and THE YARDS.  She was an Associate Producer on TOO TIRED TO DIE.

Bing is an Adjunct Professor at USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program, and she serves as a mentor for Sophia Chang’s Unlock Her Potential program for women of color. She is a graduate of Yale University and received her MBA from Harvard Business School.

GENE PAO

Gene Pao is currently EVP, Strategy and Digital at Shout! Studios, an independent film and TV distributor, where he oversees overall company strategy, production, marketing, distribution, and digital operations. Over the past several years, Shout has expanded its business to indie film distribution—having released a number new films this year including LINOLEUM (Jim Gaffigan), THE MAGIC FLUTE (F. Murray Abraham), WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (Shazad Latif, Lily James, Emma Thompson), and hitting theaters on 9/29, THE KILL ROOM (Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Joe Manganiello). Prior to Shout, Gene spent 12 years at Disney, Fox, and NBCU in cable distribution, digital media, and live sports broadcasting/livestreaming. In 2022, Gene was named one of the Top 40 Most Important People In Streaming by Media Play News.

LARRY WASSERMAN

Larry Wasserman is the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Operations of Skydance Media, the diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high-quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences.  He is responsible for the Company’s global finance, accounting, facility operations, risk management, and IT teams, and provides support and analysis for the execution of new business initiatives, investments, and capital raise efforts across the organization.

During his tenure at Skydance, Larry has been a key player in several capital raises, securing close to $1 billion from partners such as Tencent Holdings, RedBird Capital Partners, CJ E&M, and, most recently, KKR. He manages the Company’s $750 million revolving credit facility through JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a syndicate of top-tier entertainment lenders.

Larry helped to establish the financial model and business plan for Skydance’s newest division, Skydance Sports, and assisted in the creation of its partnership with the NFL and NFL Films.  Larry also headed Skydance’s Interactive division during the development and launch of the critically acclaimed VR survival-horror game The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – which became the company’s most successful game to date.

Prior to Skydance, Larry was the Chief Financial Officer at DreamWorks Studios, where he oversaw all financial activities and several operating divisions of the film and television company founded by Steven Spielberg.  He played an integral role in re-launching the company as an independent studio in 2008.  Before joining DreamWorks, Larry held management positions in the Business Development and Strategic Planning group at Universal Pictures. He began his career at Greenwich Associates.

Larry holds a B.A. degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.