As he walked across College Green with his wife Friday morning, Neil Braun realized that his life had "come full circle." Braun, a 1974 College graduate and current president of NBC-TV in New York, returned to the place where he was once a student this weekend to share the knowledge he has gained since his graduation with current undergraduates. The discussion, held in the Ben Franklin Room of Houston Hall, began with Braun's time at the University and outlined his unusual career path to his present position at NBC. After graduating from Penn, he attended law school at the University of Chicago and then landed a job at an esteemed law firm. Less than one year into it, Braun realized the firm was not where he wanted to be. "I hated it," he said. "I spent all of my time answering how instead of why." Although Braun said it was not easy to leave a stable position, he defended his decision and encouraged those in attendance to do what makes them happy. "You have to go for what you want, because nothing will be handed to you," he said. "Don't limit yourself or your aspirations." For Braun, doing what he wanted meant financing movies, which he did for several years. He found that many people in the entertainment industry had a creative side but lacked the business knowledge required to follow through on a good idea. Braun admitted that he "made every mistake in the book" while financing movies such as Ghandi and Midnight Express. During this time, he acquired a good understanding of the industry. He subsequently moved on to serve as executive vice president of HBO and later, financier for a group headed by director Ron Howard. "Get responsibility and authority before title and money. If you have those things, title and money will come later," Braun said. "There is enough money to be made without compromising yourself." Braun later worked for Viacom Pictures, but reached a point where he began facing pressure to relocate to Los Angeles. His family and values made him reluctant to move from his New York home, which, he says, is still true today. "I am not my business card," Braun added. "I never have been." Braun moved on to NBC, where he was able to be in the entertainment industry while still living and working in New York City. He recalled how he telephoned NBC and tried to sell himself as a person that could help the company in a way no one else could. "You need to market yourself as a unique product," Braun advised. "What will differentiate you from everyone else? Entry is hard, so sell your uniqueness." He also stressed that people need to be aware of what is around them and take advantage of anything that might come their way. "Be conscious," he said. "Every person I meet is an opportunity." Students in attendance, mostly Communications majors, listened carefully to Braun's advice on how to succeed in a competitive environment. "Be open to different options," College senior Seth Ladetsky said after the speech. "Know what you want and go for it."
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