01: Scooter Braun – What it Took to Build the Career of Justin Bieber
What does it take to be a superstar? Of course, it takes dependable people backing you up, supporting you, and giving you the opportunities you need to succeed. But what does it take to be one of those people? My friend Scooter Braun is one of those people for some of the biggest superstars on the pop scene today. You may have heard of Carly Rae Jepsen, Psy (of “Gangnam Style” fame), Tori Kelly, and young pop singer known as Justin Bieber — Scooter helped build them all. He’s been working with young artists and building careers for years now, and along the way, he’s created an impressive career for himself. But I think what’s most impressive and inspiring to me is how Scooter has remained grounded among all the chaos. He operates in a world of fame and celebrity, but he’s still just a regular guy. He also fundamentally believes in the power of philanthropy. I recently joined him on a trip to Guatemala, and it was incredible to see how much he genuinely loves to help people. I was so excited to have Scooter as my first ever guest on this podcast. I don’t think there could be a better person to talk to about what it’s like to live as a creative entrepreneur. Scooter built his career from the ground up, and he knows a thing or two about letting your passion guide you through open doors of opportunity. Scooter is incredibly successful; that’s why I asked him about his personal philosophy around success in our interview. We also talk about how we can achieve success, and why the key is to trust your gut and choose not to be afraid. We talk about what the word “success” actually means — and why it’s not just about how much money you make. And finally, we talk about the importance of building relationships and being a good friend to the people around you. This interview is full of so much inspiring wisdom — I know you’ll walk away with more than a few great takeaways. So without further ado, let’s dive into my interview with the brilliant Scooter Braun. Who Is Scooter Braun? Scooter Braun is the Founder of SB Projects, the multimedia magnate behind Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Usher, and Tori Kelly, to name a few. Scooter has personally managed some of the biggest acts in show businesses today, and he’s still building his empire. But Scooter doesn’t only work on the music scene. SB Projects has ventures in music, film, television, technology, and philanthropy. Their first documentary, Never Say Never (directed by Jon Chu, another ONKEN RADIO guest), was a massive hit that became the number one grossing concert film in US history. And their tech incubator, Silent Labs, has investments in Uber, Spotify, and Pinterest, among others. Scooter’s presence in the entertainment industry is enormous, but he reaches even farther with his philanthropic efforts. Scooter currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds houses in developing nations. Our recent trip to Guatemala was part of a Pencils of Promise effort to construct homes there, and it was inspiring to me to see how much joy Scooter takes from reaching out to help people. Beyond his efforts with Pencils of Promise, Scooter, along with his wife, Yael Braun (another amazing ONKEN RADIO guest), serves on the board of Fuck Cancer, a non-profit Yael founded to help with the prevention and early detection of cancer. And finally, Scooter, his clients, and his companies have granted more wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation than any other organization in the history of the non-profit. In 2013, Time magazine named Scooter one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. His work in entertainment is incredible, and his work in philanthropy is inspiring. I am so thankful to Scooter for lending me a little bit of his time today. Let’s get into our interview and look at what it really means to be successful in a creative space. Trust Your Gut