Sean Robertson

I’ve spent my entire career working for some of the globe’s largest media companies, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Echostar Corporation. As a Vice President of Small and Medium Business Growth at NBCUniversal (a Comcast-owned company), I help to connect businesses to scale by connecting them to their desired audiences across digital, television, and social media.

I received my MBA from the IE Brown Executive program in 2017. Since that time, I’ve utilized my learnings to develop customized solutions and execution plans for my team’s portfolio of over 1,000 advertising agencies and brands.

How did IE help you get to where you are today?

IE Was pivotal in shaping the way that I approach business leadership and people management. The value of the IE network cannot be overstated. From my program cohort to the NYC IE Alumni community, I have garnered support and lent support in an ongoing basis.

What do you believe defines a strong alumni community, and how have you contributed to that vision at IE?

A strong alumni community is defined by engagement, accessibility, and a shared commitment to lifting one another beyond the classroom. It’s not just about networking; it is about creating an ecosystem where members feel connected, supported, and invested in each other’s success, regardless of geography or career stage. During my time leading the IE NYC Alumni Board, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic, this vision was put to the test. With in-person interaction no longer possible, we had to quickly reinvent how we engaged our community, leveraging emerging virtual platforms that were largely untested at scale. Through a series of virtual events, panels, and networking sessions, we maintained and in many cases strengthened alumni connectivity during a time when many felt isolated. This required both creativity and intentionality to ensure the experience remained meaningful and not transactional. That period reinforced my belief that strong communities are built through consistent engagement, adaptability, and a mindset of service. I continue to contribute to this vision by staying active as an alumni board member, fostering connections across industries, and creating opportunities for alumni to engage in ways that are both professionally valuable and personally meaningful.

Can you describe a moment where your involvement directly helped another IE student or alumnus advance personally or professionally? 

During my time at IE, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with my classmate Anthony Giordano, now Senior Vice President of Marketing at CURE, a leading healthcare innovation ecosystem in the United States. While we did not work together on a formal class project, we served side-by-side for two years on the IE NYC Alumni Board. Through that experience, I developed a deep appreciation for Anthony’s work ethic, leadership style, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence. These qualities became especially evident as we navigated complex challenges together and worked to sustain engagement within the alumni community. I was proud to serve as a reference for Anthony in his current role, where I spoke to these attributes and his ability to lead with both impact and integrity, which were integral in him landing his current post.