Cover Story: Steve Pamon '91

Steve Pamon '91

PHOTO BY ANDREW WHITE FOR PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

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Leading in Formation

Entertainment industry heavyweight and influencer Steve Pamon '91 is the Chief Operating Officer of Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment.

Pamon shared his thoughts on success, career, family leadership and a host of other topics in this month's cover story.

All photos by Andrew White for Parkwood Entertainment

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Entertainment industry heavyweight Steve Pamon ’91 is currently the president and chief operating officer of Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment. Pamon is “helping to shape the trending culture on a daily basis” with his work with Parkwood founder, Beyoncé Knowles Carter.

Before his work with Parkwood, Pamon headed sports and entertainment marketing for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC), where he led a team responsible for the negotiation and activation of the Global JPMC sponsorship portfolio, which includes Chase Field (home of Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks), and Madison Square Garden Properties, such as the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Radio City Music Hall, Chicago Theater, and the Los Angeles Forum.

manager of HBO’s Digital Distribution and Business Development team.

He is also an active board member with the New York Road Runners, a non-profit organization that produces more than 100 sports events each year, including the New York City Marathon.

Pamon graduated from Morehouse in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a concentration in finance. He later earned an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Pamon was the vice president of strategy and new business development for the National Football League, and the senior vice president and general

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Steve Pamon '91

PHOTO BY ANDREW WHITE FOR PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

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Steve Pamon '91 with members of the creative and production teams in Paris, during rehearsals for the On The Run II Stadium Tour

PHOTO BY ANDREW WHITE FOR PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

Steve Pamon '91, with members of the creative and production teams in Paris, during rehearsals and production preparations for OTR ll Stadium Tour.

WAMM: How do you measure success?

STEVE PAMON: - As someone once told me, “You want someone to recite more than your resume at your funeral.”"

Criticism: What do you do with the energy that comes from critiques?

"At the end of the day, there’s three things: You have to learn from it; you have to use it a measuring stick to get better every day from it; and last but not least you have to learn how to hear everybody, but not necessarily listen to everyone."

What's one mistake you made early on?

"Not transitioning from being an individual contributor to being a team leader fast enough. You can be the most talented individual in the world, but if you don’t know

how to take advantage of a team and the people around you, then you won’t have success."

How do you stay in forefront of what's hot or on-trend? How do you keep up?

"I truly believe that intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm are keys to life. You have to consume what you are selling and constantly put yourself in the mindset of an emerging consumer / fan. You shouldn’t have to stay in the forefront, you should be the forefront."

What was the hardest lesson you learned in your first year of business and the hardest lesson you learned in the past year of business?

"First year of business: How business is conducted versus how

business is taught. Business is conducted through relationships and shared experiences, business is taught through observation and learning. Both must be mastered.

"Past year of business: Again, it’s all about people. You can have the best business acumen in the world but if you can’t motivate and drive people, then you won’t accomplish your goal. It is much easier to change the people who work with you, then to change how those people work."

How should a business leader approach innovation and why?

"It’s about controlling fear. The fear of failure. Where there’s no risk there’s no return."

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What's your proudest accomplishment in your business?

"Being present long enough to watch my colleagues, mentees, friends, and especially my Morehouse brothers grow and prosper, and seeing them go off and do great things; Knowing that people who I hired, are now hiring other people. As Drake would say, “And they don't have no award for that"."

What have you learned about yourself running your business?

"Learning is a continuous process. I know that if I’m not motivated, it’s hard to motivate other people. I know that what motivates me is actually making change and making a difference, as opposed to money."

What have you sacrificed for success?

"A lot of time spent with myself and spent with others I love, but at the end of the day it’s all worth it because hopefully we are making a better way for them."

Whom do you admire as a business leader?

"There’s so many – Bob Iger (Walt Disney), Steve Jobs (Apple), John Johnson (Ebony), among others.

But the single most impactful business person, I have observed is Dick Parsons. I had the pleasure of working with him as he led Time Warner when they were the largest media company in the world. Based on his leadership at Dime Savings Bank to Time Warner, Citigroup, and selling the Clippers for 2 billion dollars, I don't think I can name a more accomplished executive. But more importantly, I saw him invest his time and energy into the careers of countless people (especially people of color), while handling the pressures of being a CEO with style and grace."

Why should Morehouse Men support Morehouse College?

"On a micro level, as a Morehouse Man, I owe a huge portion of my life to the benefits of the institution, so I think my support is a requirement. On a macro level - I

believe that black people are an important part of the world’s culture, so it is a natural conclusion that the education of black men is something that is important for the world. Given that Morehouse is uniquely qualified in the education of black men, I would hope everyone would support the College in some way."

"Success is much more about impact than activity. It’s ultimately measured in putting out positive feelings versus obtaining economic wealth."

STEVE'S PATH TO PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT

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