I recently went one-on-one with Rich Raddon. Rich is the co-founder of MOVIECLIPS and the co-founder and co-CEO of Zefr.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here?
Rich: I began my career in the movie industry. Sort of. I had the opportunity to work with my hero and one of the greatest movie icons and geniuses of my generation, John Hughes, famous for The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, Weird Science, Home Alone…and so on. I served as his assistant, but it was a great time.
After almost 10 years of following in the footsteps of my mentor, trying my hand in the movie business as a director and producer, in LA, before I made the decision to create my own company called MOVIECLIPS, with cofounder Zach James. This soon became one of the largest video networks about movies, which was later sold to Fandango. You probably know it now as “Rotten Tomatoes Movieclips.”
For me, I was able to combine my passion with video, entertainment, and technology with content creation.
What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Rich: Like so many others, the pandemic and the California fires were a huge tragedy. I personally lost my home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires. We are still rebuilding. But it is something that has made me, my family, and the state of California, more resilient and stronger than ever before. We will recover and will be better than ever before.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your business?
Rich: Growing and scaling a business can feel arduous. It might feel like a chess game. And it should. It is strategic and it is personal. To have a successful business, you have to be three steps ahead. This can be tricky. But for me, I’ve always looked to our clients to see what their priorities were and how we could address them now and in the future. To do this, it’s essential to implement the following:
- Current business plan and strategy: What is your vision for the company? Is it tangible? Do you have the necessary funding to support it and see it through? Keep this updated as necessary as markets and environments change (biannually/yearly)
- Strong leadership, team, and workforce: Make sure your leadership and immediate team(s) and workforce know the plan and believe in it. Having an open and shared passion is important for growth.
- Training and education: My business is so niche and ever-changing; our teams must stay up-to-date with AI. Training, reskilling, and upskilling are key. We need to do it for ourselves, our clients, and the industry.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Rich:
- Hire great people with unique skillsets that can learn from one another (and teach you). And remember to make sure you share your goals and vision for the company with them. They will have the same passion as you and will work as one unit. You will always be successful in this way.
- Don’t micromanage. Train your teams, provide information, projects, and timing. Let them run with it. We’ve grown from two employees to over 200 employees in 17 years with this strategy, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Adam: What are the most important trends in technology that leaders should be aware of and understand?
Rich: The most important trends in technology that leaders should be aware of and understand are AI. It continues to advance and evolve daily. Areas include generative AI, agentic AI, Ethical AI for transparency and bias mitigation, and areas in IoT, governance, and cybersecurity, which are increasingly in high demand.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Rich: Being an effective leader is not just about confidence, integrity, or emotional intelligence; it is also about being a role model. Like any relationship, for a leader to be effective, one must be direct, open, honest, and always be kind.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Rich: No matter where you are in your career, it’s so critical to always keep learning, stay active, and curious.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Rich:
- Find your passion, and once you do, work hard to get it, and continue to build
- If you can differentiate yourself in the marketplace, whatever industry you happen to be in, then make sure that you focus on doing it well.
- Never forget your roots. I have never forgotten where I came from or where I got my start. John (Hughes) was an incredible mentor. I have always tried to continue that legacy of giving back and teaching as much as possible.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of sales, marketing, and branding?
Rich: I believe all organizations should have clear, consistent messaging and content for all materials, both internal and external. And then it can be modified based on the audience accordingly. It is crucial to know your target audience and where and when you want your message to be delivered. Timing is essential, and content is still king. This is especially true in today’s AI and social media world.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Rich: “Always challenge yourself. Even when you think you may be done, keep going. The best is yet to come.”
