GERALD WASHINGTON:
THE EMPIRE BUILDER
With a longstanding history of taking brands and businesses to the next level of success, Gerald’s leadership, innovation, and business acumen leave only two words to describe him: Empire Builder.
Today he’s building an empire that includes, brand management division and now transformation arm via his speaking, coaching programs and new book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire.
Washington’s latest venture takes him off his Hollywood Hiatus and back in the amazing world of entertainment and television productions. With the launch of Driveway Productions his Atlanta based production company, a renewed sense of purpose, a laser focus, and a commitment to providing programming that will not only be entertaining, but will tell the types of powerful, culture driven, complex, perspective based, impactful stories so many viewers are craving.
Washington also serves as a board member and partner of Lion Capital Investments, a California/Georgia based investment firm where he and his team tackle residential and commercial real estate investments along with franchise development opportunities globally.
Prior to this role, Gerald was the partner and president of Steve Harvey World Group, partner and president East 112th Street Productions, and president of the Steve Harvey Radio Network, where he led business development, production, and operations for all three companies. Gerald successfully secured major partnerships and endorsement deals with household names such as T-Mobile, Ford, State Farm, NBC, ABC, Fox and BET. He led the launch and growth of new business ventures with Match.com and Garrett’s Popcorn Shops, as well as the transformational coaching company Act Like a Success and Easy Bacon, Steve Harvey’s first food product. Through his leadership, the Steve Harvey World Group tripled in revenue and grew by 65 percent.
Gerald was equally successful at the helm of East 112th Street Productions, launching six successful prime time television shows, a cable television program, a digital content platform, and a mobile game app. He executive produced the Emmy Award-winning Steve Harvey TV Show and top-rated television shows such as Funderdome, Showtime at the Apollo, Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud, Little Big Shots, Little Big Shots: Forever Young, STEVE, MANCAVE and the Miss Universe/Miss USA franchise.
Gerald’s passion for business and entrepreneurship started in his youth. In high school, he launched a profitable 5-figure candy business. While attending college, he founded a marketing company that promoted national concert tours and counted major brands such as Coca-Cola among its clients. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Advanced Economics with a minor in Psychology from Occidental College, he launched a boutique real estate company. Within a few years, Gerald had built a multi-million dollar real estate empire.
With several successful million-dollar companies under his belt in his early twenties, Gerald took a huge financial hit during the economic downturn of the late 2000’s and lost the majority of his businesses. Determined to rebuild his portfolio and surpass his previous success, Gerald bounced back stronger and wiser than ever.
With 3 daughters of his own, Gerald chose to put everything he has into re-building.
Gerald’s plight to build an empire isn’t his sole mission. In fact, it's to build a legacy. One that his children and family can be proud of.
Stay tuned. Gerald Washington is the ultimate empire builder, but he’s just getting started…
CLIENTS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - PRIME TIME AND CABLE NETWORKS
The Steve Harvey Show (NBC)
Steve (NBC)
Little Big Shots (NBC)
Little Big Shots Forever Young (NBC)
Family Feud
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
FunderDome (ABC)
Miss Universe (FOX)
Showtime at the Apollo (FOX)
Showtime at the Apollo (FOX Special)
New Years Eve with Steve Harvey Live (FOX)
ManCave (BET)
