Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Michael Cerdá, a visionary builder behind some of the most iconic digital products of our time. From launching Disney+ to over 100 million subscribers, to helping build the Apple Card and Marcus platform at Goldman Sachs, to transforming TelevisaUnivision into a global streaming powerhouse with Vix, Michael has consistently built category-defining products at massive scale.
We explore his earlier work at Facebook, and how each chapter taught him something different about culture, leadership, and execution. We dive into what it really takes to lead inside high-stakes environments, where bold ideas must be matched by world-class execution, and how emotional intelligence, cultural alignment, and purposeful leadership separate good teams from great ones.
If you're looking to understand what it takes to build products and companies that truly last, this episode is a masterclass in doing just that.
Notable Awards and Recognitions
• Executive Product Advisor of Build Something, advising CEOs and executive teams on scaling products, teams, and company culture
• Scaled Disney+ from concept to over 100 million subscribers and $4B+ in revenue within three years
• Chief Product Officer at Goldman Sachs, overseeing Marcus platform growth to $43B+ in assets and co-developing the Apple Card
• Transformed TelevisaUnivision into a digital-first media company by launching Vix, reaching 50M+ monthly AVOD users and 10M SVOD subscribers, while driving $1B in annual streaming revenue through ad-supported and subscription models.
• Director of Product at Facebook, leading media product experiences across news, sports, and live streaming
• Head of Product at Vevo, where he drove exponential growth in user engagement
• Early innovation leader at MySpace and Ooma, transforming voice-over IP access and digital music discovery
• Author of Build Something: Building Products, Business & Culture
How to connect with Michael Cerda
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcerda/
• https://www.build-something.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/imcerdafied/?hl=en
• https://www.facebook.com/michaelcerda
• https://x.com/imcerdafied
Show Notes
[1:36] How Michael’s journey began, from early roles in sales to building transformative product experiences at powerhouse companies like Disney+, Goldman Sachs, Facebook, and Vevo and what shaped his unique path along the way.
[4:54] Reflecting on the challenges of stepping into Facebook’s youth-driven culture as an industry hire.
[9:55] Michael recalls a tense meeting with Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, where he raised concerns about news content in the Facebook feed and how it could fuel echo chambers, putting the platform at the center of growing responsibility.
[16:55] Balancing bold innovation with disciplined execution, especially in high-stakes, fast-paced environments like media, finance, and tech.
[24:24] Unpacking why EQ-driven, authentic leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, especially in environments that favor speed, hierarchy, and rigid execution. He shares how emotional intelligence can be a superpower, but only when matched to the right culture.
[26:53] Sharing how even projects like “Super Fan”, which didn’t go as planned, still brought meaningful wins and lessons that contributed to his growth as a leader.
[32:23] Michael discusses what he’s building with Build Something, his new venture that focuses on guiding businesses forward. He reflects on the shift from being inside a company to supporting teams from the outside, and the unique challenges that come with that transition.
[40:09] How listeners can connect with Michael and pick up their copy of his book, Build Something.
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