Living To Expectations: Philippe Dauman

When you’re a bright kid there are expectations placed on your shoulders.  Others are reminded constantly of what is expected of them by parents or friends others are simply left alone. Whatever is the case if you do score very high on tests such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), then many see you as having a very bright future.

Philippe Dauman scored 1600 on his SAT test which he took at age 13. It was then the highest possible score.  He did not disappoint. The son of a photographer, he was born on January 3, 1954 and grew up in New York City.  Dauman went to the best schools getting his undergraduate degree at Yale University and a law degree at Columbia University of Law in 1978.

He then worked for law firm Shearman & Sterling and was assigned in Paris for two years before returning to New York.  Dauman then worked under the law firm’s corporate group. It was while working there that he came into a professional association which would take his career to the media and entertainment world.

He handled the account of a client named Sumner Redstone. This led to an advisory role during the hostile takeover of Viacom by Redstone in 1987.  Dauman has since been known as having a personal closeness or even trust with Redstone.  After the takeover he got a board of director seat at Viacom.  He became senior vice president and general counsel six years later. On September 2006 Dauman reached the top position as President and CEO of Viacom.  Among other positions he was also a director at CBS Corporation (also Redstone owned) until September 2006.

Viacom is no ordinary mass media outlet. It reaches a very large audience through its many companies. It is global in scope with media networks like BET, MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon.  One of its companies is film giant Paramount Pictures.  Through Nickelodeon and other activities it has a strong focus on children’s TV programs.

Dauman and Viacom started the Get Schooled education initiative in 2009 with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Its aim is to raise awareness of America’s public school crisis. Dauman is a member or board of director of a number of prestigious organizations like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This is a man who is living to expectations.