Meet Michael Cioni | CEO, Entrepreneur, Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Cioni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I find that when I speak to other entrepreneurs, the thought process behind starting it is not often denominated by logic or rational thought. On the contrary, passion is one of the most plentiful ingredients when contemplating starting a new business and can mask the guardrails that help ensure we’re engaging in safe passage. That being said, blatant disregard for safety is perhaps the most important ingredient in that it allows unfiltered obsession to take center stage. Strada is my third startup and every time I start a new business a battle in my head ensues between playing it safe and playing to win. Before I can start a new business I have to be 100% mentally committed and be willing to walk away from the safety of my current position. What consistently pushes me over the top is recognizing an emerging technological shift. When the combination of instinct and data suggest this shift could eventually lead to a tipping point, I end up putting myself in a situation where I’m 100% in.

After 27 years working in media and entertainment, I’ve learned that my favorite thing to do is to build, inspire, and scale teams. I am not bashful in admitting I’m not a good manager, but I’m an excellent motivator and I find that if I can assemble a team of well motivated people, they’re able to manage themselves. Most people agree the construction of a great group of talent is critical to achieving any form of success. That’s why recruiting people has always been fundamental to my approach and I love to lean on the talent of others to fill in the gaps that I’m missing. Business is a team sport and so I believe any form of personal success is a shared accomplishment.

What should our readers know about your business?
The life of a serial entrepreneur is one that invites a lot of stress, criticism, and uncertainty. Even when I write that I ask myself, “Why would anyone want to make this a career?” Playing host to an unending wave of pressure sounds foolish, but what drives me is a constant desire to push myself out of my comfort zone and expose myself to situations in which I need to uplevel myself. Whether it’s in filmmaking, technology, or music, none of my accomplishments are met with a sense of satisfaction that lasts more than a few hours. But that’s where the fuel to try again begins to overtake brief moments of serenity. Every person has dreams and aspirations – and motivational speakers have made a career out of trying to inspire strangers to go for it. I’m one of those who sets my own goals and has a hard time backing down – even when I’m falling short. I wonder what the world would be like if more of us listened to the quiet voice in our head telling us to take more risks?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We all know LA is a great place for people to visit and it’s fun to play host to first-timers! I prefer the hidden gems of LA that help make it a memorable experience. Some of my favorite places to visit include an evening in Griffith Observatory, shopping in Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, dinner at Firefly in Studio City, and a Dodger Game. And while it’s fun to visit other public places, I think one of the aspects that makes Los Angeles unique is our backyard pools! So running the grill during a pool party is always something I love to do – even when it’s heated during the winter months!

Website: http://www.strada.tech

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strada.tech/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strada-tech/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Strada-Tech