Ian Schafer

President & Co-Founder

2023 - Current

Ensemble, a Hoorae Media company, is a next-generation branded entertainment studio, co-founded and curated by acclaimed producer, writer, actress, and entrepreneur Issa Rae, that brings world-class production and distribution infrastructure to a diverse collective of talented and influential creators over 150 million followers strong.  Ensemble collaborates with brands, platforms, and publishers to produce and distribute epic content and activations that shape culture, engage audiences, and move product. Ensemble's mission is to make the creator economy more equitable for creators from underrepresented communities.

Co-Founder

2022

Advisor

2021

As a strategic advisor, I’m here to support ROCK THE BELLS as the preeminent voice for classic and timeless hip-hop. Founded in 2018 by LL Cool J, ROCK THE BELLS focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the culture and the core elements of hip-hop — MCs, DJs, breakdancers, graffiti artists — and more. Driven by the past, inspired by the now, and energized by the future, ROCK THE BELLS is the bridge between OGs and those inspired by their groundbreaking influences on the culture.

Accelerator (Advisor)

2019

Advisor on transactions and post-acquisition growth.

Ownership

2021

Member of the ownership team of NYC’s newest professional soccer team.

Chief Executive Officer

2022 - 2023

Built next-gen media & content company with Giannis Antetokounmpo & Jay Williams. Developed brand, marketplace strategy, and content pipeline for original (scripted & unscripted) projects and commercial productions across all media formats, from digital to film, TV, and streaming platforms. Full P&L responsibility, including recruiting and building a cross-functional team from scratch to accelerate the business, including operations, business affairs/legal, and production services and leading sales into streaming platforms and broadcasters. Led relationships and collaboration to develop, and launch global content initiatives with global brands. Sold feature documentary to Amazon Prime TV. Partnered with Stagwell to curate Sport Beach at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival of Advertising.

Advisor & Co-Founder

2021 - 2023

Co-Founder & CEO

2018 - 2021

** Co-Founder and CEO, creating global member experience and L&D platform for purpose-led business transformation; building a digital experience with products to support the build of accountability-driven businesses, executives, board members, and teams; developed inbound and outbound growth strategy; chose to exit Kindred as CEO and serve as Advisor (Oct 2021). ** Raised $8.2M and secured first 100 founding members to achieve $1M in ARR within 6 months of launch with members including Salesforce, Nike, Visa, BlackRock, Verizon, Wells Fargo, Abbott Laboratories, Impossible Foods, VICE Media, BuzzFeed, Harvard Business Publishing, Sephora, NBC News, GM, Spotify, PBS, Kellogg’s, Mass Mutual, J&J, and more. ** Defined product offering and programming with 3 featured experiences offered weekly, plus on-demand library for continual access; topics focused exclusively across ESG, Sustainability, and DEI - Educational Programming, Office Hours with Experts, Interactive Workshops, Panels, Networking Events, Executive Community, and Research Center. ** Pivoted company and 16+ employees originally built as in-person experiential event platform (in style of Davos x SXSW) to all-digital experience platform; crafted dynamic brand storytelling and go-to-market; targeted outreach included compelling and free live-streamed panels, programs, and workshops. ** Kindred was acquired in 2022.

Chief Experience Officer

2017 - 2017

Global Chairman, US CEO, and Founder

2002 - 2017

** Founded pioneering digital advertising agency, bootstrapping lean, multiplatform, agency/advisory model, establishing major client campaigns across CPG, Technology, Sports, Music, Film, TV, and Streaming; successfully built for a successful acquisition within 8 years by The Engine Group and retained CEO position. ** Grew company to 300+; oversaw cross-functional development of Creative, Media, Production, Engineering & Development, Operations, Legal, HR, and Finance departments. ** Catalyzed digital transformation as earliest adopters to drive 360° client brand strategies and corporate development opportunities for The Walt Disney Company, MSG (Knicks, Rangers), HBO, AMC Networks, Sony, WarnerMedia, Universal Music Group, Purina, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Capital One, Diageo, Essilor, and Pernod-Ricard. ** Launched Moment Studio, a business vertical which became a separate $7M entity; led design with Executive Creative Director to build a social-first content studio for all integrated marketing brand strategy; lined up Nestlé, Unilever, and Pepsico/Frito-Lay as initial clients. ** Named Creative AOR for Pepsico/Frito-Lay for 5 years and built the annual “Do Us A Flavor” campaign for digital, integrating platforms; garnered millions of submissions in Y1, doubling engagement YoY; signed on to direct $20M+ annual traditional and digital spend. ** Promoted following Engine Group acquisition to direct the Organization’s global strategy, overseeing all CEOs, including China and U.K., defining the corporate growth strategy across APAC, EMEA, and NA; later exited into Engine Group as Chief Experience Officer to advance global development of $500M holding company. ** Doubled team growth to 600, acquiring digital marketing agencies in China, U.S., and U.K.; rebranded and merged the global agency network of 5 entities; led due diligence and deal-making with Finance, Legal, and the worldwide CEO of Engine.

Member of the Board of Directors

2011 - 2016

Helped to see the company through a pivot and a successful exit to LiveRamp in 2016.