Episode Description: 

Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin—the world’s largest member-led music rights organization—joins us to share how he’s reshaping leadership, creativity, and decision-making in the digital music age. From throwing out traditional corporate playbooks to asking his team how they'd destroy the company, Jeremy reveals the unconventional frameworks that fuel innovation. We dive into bad ideas, “Cheeto moments,” creative scaffolding, and how curiosity drives real progress—not just in music, but in any industry.

If you're leading a team, building something new, or just trying to think differently, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources: 

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremysirota

🌐 Merlin Network: https://www.merlinnetwork.org

Chapters:

00:00Introduction and Setup

02:17Jeremy Sirota's Career Journey

06:24The Cheetos Moment: Finding Joy in Work

08:46Leadership Philosophy: No More TED Talks

16:34Innovative Thinking: Destroying the Company Exercise

23:53Curiosity as a Leadership Trait

30:58The Power of Reading and Imagination

34:15Curiosity and Creativity: Lessons from Leonardo da Vinci

37:20Fostering Creativity in Leadership

41:16Balancing Innovation and Consistency in Organizations

48:14The 42 Codes: Embracing Mistakes and Uncertainty

57:03The Future of the Music Industry: Change and Connection

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