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Hollywood Executive Reflects on Trojan Network and New Media Landscape

Hollywood Executive Reflects on Trojan Network and New Media Landscape

USC Marshall alumnus Brent Weinstein ’97 reflects on the value of his Marshall education, his road to CAA's senior leadership team, and the bright future of new media in Hollywood.

by: Alexander Bernard
07.01.25
Brent Weinstein

Brent Weinstein ’97

[Photo courtesy of Weinstein]

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When Brent Weinstein ’97 first started in Hollywood, he couldn’t have anticipated where the industry was headed or the challenges it would soon face. Yet, the entertainment executive and USC Marshall School of Business alumnus has striven to remain on the cutting edge, while building on the relationships he cultivated at USC.

“Marshall is one of the most well respected business schools in the country, with an extraordinary alumni network,” Weinstein said. “Rarely does a week go by where I don’t cross paths with another Marshall alum.”

Weinstein, former chief innovation officer at United Talent Agency, is now a part of the senior leadership team at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of the largest talent agencies in the entertainment industry, to set strategy for new media that falls outside the purview of Hollywood’s more traditional film and television landscape.

From overseeing digital media, talent business ventures, and speakers to developing the agency’s business strategies, the Marshall alumnus collaborates daily with creatives across multiple sectors to develop innovative approaches and opportunities in the new media landscape. Fortunately for Weinstein, he seems to find fellow Trojans no matter where he works.

“My job requires me to work across many sectors of media — the creator economy, podcasts, video games, and more — and in each instance, the special connection that exists between USC alums always seems to be a great ingredient in forging new, impactful partnerships,” Weinstein said.

As Weinstein reflects on his journey through Hollywood, he’s grateful for the support he’s received from the Trojan Network across the years.

“This is a relationship business,” Weinstein said. “Deep relationships, built on trust and shared experiences, are the lifeblood of the industry.”

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Weinstein dreamed about attending USC from a young age — experiencing campus traditions, forming meaningful friendships, and watching the football team compete in Rose Bowl after Rose Bowl.

As a seasoned entertainment professional, Weinstein attributes much of his success to the power and spirit of the Trojan Network, bonds that have been essential in an industry built on “who you know.”

The connective tissue that exists between any USC Marshall alumni (even those who are perhaps just meeting for the first time, as experienced professionals) is real and profound, and everyone’s respective USC journey is the ultimate shared-experience ice-breaker.

— Brent Weinstein ’97

Senior Leadership Team, CAA

“This is a relationship business; a business built on trust and having common ground with colleagues and business partners,” Weinstein said. “The connective tissue that exists between any USC Marshall alumni (even those who are perhaps just meeting for the first time, as experienced professionals) is real and profound, and everyone’s respective USC journey is the ultimate shared-experience ice-breaker.”

As someone who has built their career on innovation and foresight, Weinstein understands the importance of identifying market trends, building business models, and setting up his clients for success in new and exciting sectors.

“I was taught early on to always remain curious and to always make time to feed curiosity. Learn new things. Expand your horizons. Get comfortable with discomfort, so you can identify and jump on trends and marketplace shifts, even when there are still more questions than answers. Being an early mover has lots of advantages,” Weinstein said.

The entertainment industry has faced its fair share of challenges in the past few years, be it a global pandemic, multiple labor strikes, or a production exodus out of Los Angeles. Weinstein, however, believes Hollywood’s demise has been greatly exaggerated. For those USC Marshall students interested in entering the industry, as he was years ago, he offers a simple message: Now is the time.

“While the landscape is shifting, I don’t think there has ever been a more exciting time to be a media professional,” Weinstein said. “There are more people engaging with content than at any point in the history of our planet. The form factors are evolving, the platforms are changing, and user behaviors are shifting. But the business of entertainment, when viewed across all its forms, is better than ever.”

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