Season 5 - Ep. 6 | Music with a Mission: Former MTV International Chairman and CEO Bill Roedy on Leading with Purpose

Many of us have heard the expression “doing good is good for business.” In this episode, Simon Kingston sits down with former MTV International Chairman and CEO Bill Roedy about how he put this concept into practice on a truly global scale.

Bill takes us on his journey of how he redefined broadcast television, launching the most channels in television history with more than 200 global channels and 20 brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and numerous others. He discusses how and why he started MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, Suga, and other social responsibility initiatives to realize the ethos of “doing good is good for business.” And Bill shares his journey from West Point to MTV to GAVI and beyond.

We'll also hear from Andrew White, a leadership advisor who specializes in executive assessment and development, who will discuss why curiosity and adaptability are essential leadership traits in today's business environment.

Bill Roedy
Former Chairman and CEO of MTV International

Bill Roedy has pursued a lifetime of global service in both the private and public sectors dedicating his life to uniting cultures, freedom for all, and improving well-being worldwide.

As the former Chairman and CEO of MTV International (MTVNI), he built a global operation of 200 channels and 20 brands (including MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central) in 200 countries, reaching two billion people, launching the most channels in television history. He founded and chaired the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, the longest multi-media campaign to fight the AIDS epidemic.

Bill expanded on his work with HIV/AIDS and was appointed the first Ambassador of UNAIDS, was a founding member and Chair of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, was appointed the founding Chair of the Global Media AIDS initiative, became the Chair of amfAR, and was appointed the first Envoy for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), rising to Vice Chair in 2018.

Bill's accolades include an Emmy Founders Award, amfAR's Award of Courage, the Doctors of the World Leadership Award, and the U.N. Global Citizen of the Year Award. Because of his storied career, he's been honored as a Cable T.V. Pioneer, and in 2015, was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was selected as a Distinguished Graduate of West Point and in 2024 he was awarded with the Winston Churchill Leadership Medal by America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College.

He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, qualified as Airborne Ranger, and volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star, Air Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Silver Star), and the Meritorious Service Medal for his military service.

He is an executive producer of the film documentary 'Battle of amfAR,' and the author of What Makes Business Rock, CNBC's Best Book of Summer 2011.

In 2023, Bill ran for Mayor of Miami Beach. He and his wife, Alexandra, are parents to four children and live in Miami Beach.