CNBC Leaders Playbook premieres Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC, with all-new episodes airing Wednesdays.
These leadership takeaways are part of a new primetime series, CNBC Leaders Playbook, premiering January 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Hosted by CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, the series goes inside the minds of the world’s top business leaders to reveal how lasting success is built.
Ted Sarandos didn’t help build Netflix by following a rulebook. As co-CEO, he made bold bets when the future was unclear, trusted talented people to make big decisions, and relied on instinct as much as data.
These five leadership moves show how Sarandos created a culture that isn’t afraid to take risks, challenge assumptions, and keep reinventing what entertainment can be.
When content deals were getting harder to close, Sarandos knew Netflix needed to start creating its own original programming.
