Leading with Purpose: Jeremy Sirota on Music, Entrepreneurship, and Successful Innovation
In this episode, Teddy interviews Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin, whose journey intersects topics of music, law, and technology. Tune in to hear how he champions independent artists worldwide and creates meaningful solutions in the digital world.
Hello! Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast that connects the country’s youth with technology by debugging the intricate world of computer science
In this episode, Teddy speaks with Jeremy Sirota, a lawyer by trade and CEO of Merlin. Jeremy has spent two decades at the intersection of music, technology, and law, and now leads Merlin, which represents thousands of independent music labels worldwide.
His journey started with a background in Intellectual Property law, proving that non-traditional paths can lead to success. He stresses the importance of having a clear plan in place, even when feeling uncertain about your direction.
For young innovators, Jeremy’s primary advice is to focus on the problem. He echoes Steve Jobs’ famous “10-second pause,” emphasizing that you must identify and solve a real-world problem, not just pursue an idea that feels good. The key is a continuous feedback loop and constant iteration.
As a leader, he emphasizes that success is built on people and relationships. Jeremy considers leadership a service, stressing the importance of building partnerships, having mentors, and investing in the success of people on his team.
Finally, discussing generative AI, Jeremy recognizes that while the tools change, the core human elements (collaboration and interaction) remain constant.
Tune in to this week’s episode of Debugged to hear all of Jeremy’s reflections, advice for App Challenge participants, and visions for the future!