Andrew Epstein on How to Be a More Supportive Spouse

In Chapter 19 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?"  Epstein shares how as partners he and his wife support each other through challenges.  By propping each other up and giving each other pats on the back, Epstein and his wife make teamwork fundamental in their marriage. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Andrew Epstein on How Family Relationships Change With Age

In Chapter 20 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "How are Your Family Relationships Changing as You Get Older?"  Epstein finds his family relationships are becoming more intimate and deep.  The social interactions are more meaningful and the relationships are more supportive.  As an uncle to a nephew and two nieces, Epstein also shares how being around children are an increasingly important part of the time he spends with family. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Andrew Epstein on How Personal Priorities Change With Age

In Chapter 21 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?"  Happy to be living in Brooklyn, New York, Epstein does note how getting older focuses his time more on family, work, and scaling back how often he goes out with friends to see live music. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Andrew Epstein on Using Your Passions to Be a Better Dad

In Chapter 22 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "How Are You Learning to Apply Your Passions in New Ways?"  As an expecting father planning for parenthood, Epstein looks forward to applying his passion for helping feel successful and good about life in his role as a new Dad. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Andrew Epstein on Doing What is Best for Your Family and Future

In Chapter 23 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "What Steps are You Taking to Do What is Best for Your Family and Your Future?"  Epstein shares the struggle of finding a balance between aspiring more in his career to provide more for his family and managing time at work to be present at home.  He shares how he asks for help as he continues to seek that equilibrium. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Why an MBA is Useful in Record Promotions Jobs - Andrew Epstein

In Chapter 8 of 15 in his 2009 Capture Your Flag interiew, Island Def Jam Records and its business of making big-time superstars provides Columbia University MBA Andy Epstein a platform to manage operations and budget within the record label promotions group.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: So now you manage operations in the promotions department at Island Def Jam Records in NYC.  Tell me a bit more about your job.

Andy Epstein: IDJ (Island Def Jam) is one of the major record labels.  Island is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Def Jam its 25th.  Everyone knows Def Jam and everyone knows Island Records from Bob Marley to U2. The major label game has shifted.  There are still major labels, big time record labels, in the business of making big time recording superstars.  Part of that game is promotion, is getting these artists out across the country and heard by many, many, many ears.  You cannot have a superstar, you cannot have a Kayne West, if a 100 million people are not hearing their songs a week.  That is the promotion department’s job, to make sure those songs are heard.  My job is to make sure everything gets done and happens within a budget.  Managing a budget is part of my job.  My promotion department colleagues are salesmen trying to promote, promote, promote, sell, sell, sell.  This is hot, this is what you gotta to know about.  And then they call me up and say this is what I did and I made this deal and this deal and I say, oh man, we didn’t have any money for the deal.  OK, tell me again, let`s figure out how we are going to make this work and I go through what they do and just make it work.  Make it work within the systems.  

There`s compliance, there are budgets, there are finance and operations.  The guys out selling don`t worry about these things.  They check back in with me, sometimes every couple hours… this is what I’m doing, ok, that will be fine or that will not work and you`ll have to slow it down.