Larry Goldberg's first meal as a zombie
Larry Goldberg, a renaissance man, left the corporate legal world to join Activision. While there, he and several other key players catapulted Activision into a world-wide leader in interactive entertainment. As President and CEO of Morrison Pearl, Larry has positively impacted numerous companies including E-Line Ventures, Emergent Game Technologies, The Rundown and Waddajuice as senior advisor, investor and hands-on executive manager.
For me, Larry is a great recent addition to my network, a good friend and treasured colleague. In the time I have spent with Larry, I have soaked in his years of knowledge and life experiences that are always shared with enthusiasm and humor. He balances his zen lifestyle with business development in cutting edge technology and will continue to build important and valuable companies and organizations.
MM: If you didn't go into games, what would you be doing?
MM: Do you consider yourself a geek?
LARRY: No, I’m more of a biz guy. I love coming up with concepts and strategies, and then executing them. Oh, I’m a deal junkie too.
MM: What do you consider the most overrated virtue?LARRY: Moderation. Sometimes you’ve got to go all in.
MM: Who has been your biggest influence or mentor?
LARRY: No one has taught me more about how to be successful in business than Brian Kelly, Co-Chairman at Activision. No one has taught me more about how to live life than my wife, Mady.
MM: What is your most treasured possession?
LARRY: I don’t have one. The things I treasure the most are the things that I can’t own or possess, like my family, my friends and the great outdoors.
MM: If you were a zombie who is the first person you would eat?
LARRY: Will Smith. C’mon Will, you’re a star! Don’t go around shooting all of my Zombie brothers in a movie as bad as I Am Legend.
MM: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
LARRY: In my career, successfully making the transition from Activision’s general counsel to the head of its worldwide studios (but getting Infinity Ward to join the company and make Call of Duty is a noteworthy second place). In my life, raising my kids—although it’s not too late for me to mess that up.
MM: What technology or media is going to be important in five years?
LARRY: Affordable triple play (IPTV, VoIP and Internet access) and quadruple play (triple play + mobility) service. True convergence for the masses is right around the corner.
MM: What is your favorite charity organization?
LARRY: Two are tied for first. The Miracle Project is a theatre and film arts program here in L.A. for children with special needs and their typically developing siblings and peers. Prime Time Games is a peer-mentor sports program, also locally based in L.A., where at-risk middle school students are given a chance to give back to their community by coaching and playing alongside children with developmental disabilities. It’s inspiring to see people in my neighborhood creating new projects to help those in the community who need it most.
MM: What are people most surprised to learn about you?
LARRY: That I’m into meditation and Buddhist philosophy. A Buddhist capitalist—why not?
