Robbert J.F. de Klerk ’01, CEO, Humphrey Bogart Estate, Los Angeles

How I got the job:

I developed a friendship with the son of Audrey Hepburn through my law practice, and he introduced me to the son and daughter of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. They needed help managing the intellectual property rights of their iconic father, and over time my role grew from advising them to leaving my firm to become the CEO of the Humphrey Bogart Estate.

A typical workday:

I source, negotiate, and oversee licensing deals with companies that want to use Bogart’s image to promote or brand their products. One of the best parts of my job is that on any given day I deal with a variety of industries, such as the gaming industry, the apparel industry, the spirits industry, and the entertainment industry.

An interesting project I worked on:

This unique job continues to bring me exciting experiences. I recently negotiated a clip rights deal for a Super Bowl ad with Google, closed an apparel deal with Gucci, and signed an agreement with a large studio for a film about Bogart’s life. We are also developing an animated series. There is almost always some kind of fascinating project on my desk.

Ron Wheeler ’84, Managing Director, ATSC 3.0 Security Authority (A3SA); Executive Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs and Head of Worldwide Studio Relations for Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC), Los Angeles

How I got the job:

Having spent 24 plus years doing transactions, anti-piracy, and technology- related work at 20th Century Fox, and the final six months of my Fox career representing Fox on the A3SA initiative, I was lucky enough to be offered the part-time position as MD of A3SA when I left Fox in 2019, shortly after it was acquired by Disney. Three months later, I was approached by the CEO of MPLC, who I knew well while at Fox, and asked to join MPLC part-time in a studio relations role.

A typical workday:

A3SA has been a virtual company from its founding the year before the pandemic, so has always included regularly scheduled and impromptu Zoom calls, many of which I lead as managing director. MPLC started as an in-person position but has been mostly virtual for the duration of the pandemic. The only thing that is typical about my workdays is juggling the competing demands on my time.

An interesting project I worked on:

The A3SA initiative seeks to benefit content providers, broadcasters, device manufacturers, and consumers by enabling the protection of next-generation over-the-air free TV signals—and their viewers—from cybersecurity attacks, identity theft, and piracy. Precisely because it’s all new, it’s extremely exciting as well as challenging.

Linda Benjamin ’90, Senior Vice President, Entertainment Business Affairs and Operations IMAX Corporation, Los Angeles

How I got the job:

I represented a client in a difficult and sensitive negotiation with IMAX. When that deal successfully closed, IMAX asked me to join their team and lead their entertainment business affairs. I am incredibly honored to be part of the IMAX family with its groundbreaking work and strong legacy.

A typical workday:

The variety in my day is one of the things I love most. My role spans business development and strategy, entertainment content production and distribution, finance, and legal. There is always an interesting mix of meetings with creative talent and my colleagues, lots of deal structuring and negotiation, problem solving, and optimization of operations.

Rorking and doing some transactional work in entertainment to learn about the industry.

An interesting project I worked on:

We are bringing amazing live events to audiences by broadcasting in IMAX theaters. We recently teamed up with Kanye West for his concert with Drake and beamed the show in real time to thousands of fans watching in IMAX theaters across the country. To see audiences having such a great time, immersed in the show thanks to our technology, makes all of the hard work really worthwhile. 

Rashmi Gupta ’01, Business Affairs Lead, Target, Minneapolis

How I got the job:

I gained significant experience in TV and entertainment after working for seven years as a production attorney for MTV in New York. I got that job by networking and doing some transactional work in entertainment to learn about the industry.

A typical workday:

One day I am on a call with Alicia Keys discussing an upcoming performance for employees, another day I am negotiating with Hollywood agents for talent appearances by Russell Wilson, Padma Lakshmi, or Coldplay, for example. I may review the latest social media app and its FTC disclosures or review scripts/content for IP issues. I frequently negotiate with record labels and review music licenses for the hottest new tracks.

An interesting project I worked on:

While on set for a movie trailer, I found myself in a legal debate with actor/ producer Seth Rogen about why we had to revise his script. Luckily, my prior litigation experience and participation in the Socratic method in law school prepared me to think on my feet, and I proposed a solution that he agreed to on the spot!