Lessons from Barry Diller, Ashley Graham, and Strauss Zelnick: Here are the biggest takeaways from BI's The Long Play

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A media mogul billionaire, a supermodel, and a unicorn founder walk into a conference.

Welcome to life at The Long Play.

BI’s big event in NYC, which I had the honor of hosting, featured leaders from across the business spectrum. From AI infrastructure and healthcare to video games and publishing, we had it all covered.

You’d think such a wide-ranging group would be facing very different challenges. And on a granular level, they are. Carolyn Tisch Blodgett’s daily efforts to gain support for Gotham FC are very different from John Santora’s day-to-day work turning around WeWork.

But one big takeaway I had from the day — and something I heard repeatedly from people I spoke with at the event — is that the big-picture challenges are the same. And hearing how top leaders are navigating them was incredibly helpful.

Maybe that’s growing your business in the face of some political surprises (Nubank cofounder Cristina Junqueira). Maybe it’s pivoting a company to lean into the AI era (CEO of Allbirds-turned-Smartbird Nadia Carlsten). Or maybe it’s just about taking the right steps to stay healthy in your daily life (Take-Two Interactive CEO and chairman Strauss Zelnick).

After all, we’re all thinking about the long play.

Here are some other big stories from the day:

Barry Diller weighs in on his MGM deal. The media mogul believes real-world experiences are the strongest hedge against AI, which is why his company People Inc. tried to buy MGM in June. At BI’s The Long Play, Diller shared why the deal ultimately fell apart and why he has no plans to retire at the age of 84.

The room was full of schmoozing and musing. Our reporter Henry Chandonnet networked with founders fine-tuning pitches, contemplating the future of work, and sharing laughs from their seats at The Long Play. From the hot takes to the aha moments and surprisingly (in Henry’s words!) good food, see what it was like in the room.

From history-making supermodel to leading a brand empire. Ashley Graham’s career spans from being the first-ever plus-size model on the cover of Sports Illustrated to building a business portfolio. She shared why raising money for her alcohol brand was “very, very hard and humbling.” You can watch her discuss vision boarding and how rejection has made her better in business with BI’s Leena Rao.

The guy behind one of gaming’s most anticipated releases has some health advice. Strauss Zelnick leads the company behind Grand Theft Auto, but he keeps some simple, healthy habits. He shared the eight he lives by and why peptides aren’t one of them. And much like his health regimen, Zelnick prefers a clear-cut management style, prioritizing direct CEO access and avoiding “toxic” discretionary pay programs.

Also at The Long Play:

• Nubank, Latin America’s largest digital bank, is turning its eyes toward the US — where foreign rivals have failed. Plus, watch Nubank’s co-founder share her fintech success story.
• How a co-owner of the New York Giants is using AI to build a women’s sports powerhouse with Gotham FC. She also explained why bringing your whole self to work can mean bringing your kids, too.
• WeWork CEO explains how a dress code and RTO flexibility helped change the culture at the once-troubled company.
• Smartbird’s CEO talks about converting a shoe company into an AI player.

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