Joel Hollander has worked behind the scenes in the radio business throughout his whole career. He has successfully led and turned around several media companies, served as President & CEO of both CBS Radio (formerly Infinity Broadcasting) and Westwood One Inc., and is one of the major players in creating the future of radio. He’s currently working on a new project – 264 Echo Place Partners, a strategic advising firm. Joel took a moment to tell us about what it took to get where he is, and what tomorrow’s radio looks (er, sounds) like.

TILE: How did you end up where you are today?
Joel: A lot of hard work along the way. Always taking calculated risks at the right moment to move up the ladder. I’ve found that being a good listener, aggressive, punctual, and making decisions swiftly are good traits of a leader.

TILE: How does what you do affect the world at large?
Joel: Music, sports, entertainment, and technology are great vehicles to help people to relax and get away from their everyday routines.

TILE: What is the future of radio?
Joel: Radio has been around for decades and has been an incredibly successful industry. As in most American industries, technology has changed radio. It has morphed into an audio business in other forms: Internet radio, iPods, Blackberries, HD radio, etc. Radio now exists in many different forms, though there are still 235 million people in the U.S. that listen to traditional radio every week.

TILE: What’s the best advice you would give to your teenage self?
Joel: Be aggressive. Get as many internships as you can while in school – it will only help when you graduate. Start working at an early age to cultivate the work ethic you will need down the road!

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Tags: broadcasting, careers, Joel Hollander, radio