Mike Posner shared his twenty-third episode from his very own podcast series titled What Does This All Mean? In episode 23, Mike Posner sat down with Ken Kragen and discussed the journey of making an impact – from the Hands Across America to We Are the World to Ken’s Rule of Three and why it works. Listen to the full episode now available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
The Rule of Three’s – Ken Kragen (E23):
How do you bring “impossible” ideas to life? Mike Posner and Ken Kragen discuss the journey of making an impact – from the Hands Across America to We Are the World to Ken’s Rule of Three and why it works.
Here’s more information about Ken Kragen and his incredible and inspiring story.
A graduate of Harvard Business School, Ken Kragen’s illustrious career far transcends the music and entertainment industries where he has spent many incredibly successful years. He has managed some of the world’s most important entertainers, including Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Olivia Newton-John, The Bee Gees, Burt Reynolds, The Smothers Brothers and many others. He was the creator and organizer of the historic humanitarian projects We Are the World, Hands Across America, and Cisco System’s NetAid. Amazingly over 95% of the acts he managed have become stars, and 90% of the projects he created and spearheaded have achieved success.
During the past few years, Kragen has devoted an increasing amount of his time to teaching, speaking and writing as well as consulting work for leading corporations and many non-profit organizations. He has done work for Cisco Systems, New York Life Insurance, Eastman Kodak, The Hollywood Reporter and the Country Radio Broadcasters Association to name a few.
Ken and his friend Quincy Jones produced a portion of the 1992 Presidential Inauguration for President Bill Clinton and Kragen recently helped stage a national campaign that got 1.3 million kids to stand up and take a pledge against bullying. He has written the best-selling book Life is a Contact Sport which is filled with unique and well-tested career advice.
Kragen has lectured at Harvard Business School, USC, Loyola Marymount, the University of Tennessee and many other schools. After years of teaching career courses at UCLA’s Extension Program Ken now teaches a terrific 10-week undergraduate course at the Herb Alpert School of Music on the UCLA campus. Called Stardom Strategies for Musicians it is based on his unique concepts of career development and formulas for advancing projects to a higher level of excellence. He tells his students “This will be the best course you’ve ever taken; it will be the most fun you’ve ever had in a class and it will change your life.” He then makes sure he lives up to that promise. Guests at the most recent class included Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, David Foster, Dave Koz and many of the most prominent and successful people in the industry. Check the class out at Ken Kragen UCLA Sizzle on YouTube.
Kragen is most proud of receiving the United Nations Peace Medal for the creation of Hands Across America, and We Are the World, making him one of a mere handful of private citizens to receive this honor. Among dozens of other awards, Ken Kragen has been celebrated by the NAACP, the Los Angeles Advertising Women, and the Boys And Girls Club of America. He received two MTV Awards, an American Music Award, several Emmy nominations, EBONY’s American Black Achievement Award, Manager of the Year Award from the Conference of Personal Managers and the International Citizen Of The Year Award from the International Visitors Council. He was Alumnus of the Year at his Alma Mater, the University of California, Berkeley. He is the only individual ever elected President of both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. He has served on several charity Boards including The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Community In Schools and USA for Africa.
