Academic Programs

EMSA Academics works with administrators and the Entertainment, Media and Technology (EMT) Department to ensure that the Stern curriculum matches student needs. Additionally, EMSA Academics is the primary liaison between the club and the MBA Experiential Learning Team in the Office of Student Engagement. In collaboration with the MBA Experiential Learning Team, EMSA Academics develops experiential learning opportunities often in collaboration with well-known entertainment, media and sports companies.

Learn more about the EMT program here.

EMSA Academic Advisors

Al Lieberman

Professor Lieberman is a Clinical Professor of Marketing Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a Professor of Management Practice, and the Executive Director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program.

Professor Lieberman teaches several courses including The Marketing of Entertainment Industries, Globalization of the Entertainment Industry, Managing Creative Content Development, Sports Marketing, and The Craft & Commerce of Cinema: The Cannes Film Festival. He also teaches undergraduate classes such as the Tribeca Film Festival course.

Professor Lieberman has been with NYU Stern for more than 15 years. His primary research areas of interest include film festivals and entertainment globalization. Professor Lieberman's first book, The Entertainment Marketing Revolution, was translated into several languages and voted the best business book by Fortune Magazine in Argentina.

Before joining NYU Stern, Professor Lieberman served as EVP of Young and Rubicam Direct Response Division and managed the advertising accounts of Fortune 500 companies. He then joined Simon and Schuster as World-Wide Director of Marketing and became EVP of its Silhouette Books division. Professor Lieberman was also the founder and C.E.O. of Grey Entertainment, an advertising and marketing company.

Professor Lieberman received his Bachelor of Science in labor relations from Cornell University and his master's degree in marketing from NYU Stern.

Paul Hardart

Professor Hardart joined New York University Stern School of Business as a Clinical Professor of Marketing in July 2017. He serves as Director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program.

Professor Hardart is a partner in the online storytelling platform Witnify, which captures and curates first-person accounts of important world events. He has produced a number of critically acclaimed feature films and documentaries, including Mary and Max, Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens and Before the Rains. He is an active speaker at conferences and panels related to media and technology.

Before joining NYU Stern, Professor Hardart was the founding director of the Graduate Program in Media Management at The New School and a guest lecturer at multiple universities. He founded and ran Universal Focus, the independent film label of Universal Pictures. Prior to Universal Focus, he oversaw strategic planning for Universal Pictures. He has also held senior positions at Warner Brothers and Turner Broadcasting and began his career at ABC Sports, CNBC and The Newark Star-Ledger.

Professor Hardart received his B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross and his M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg School of Graduate Management at Northwestern University.

Academic Programs

  • Entertainment, Media and Technology Specialization

    The Entertainment, Media & Technology (EMT) program enables MBA students to understand and manage the entire spectrum of the entertainment and media business, from its impact on the economy and the digital revolution to the global opportunities that technology creates. With a focus on both the business and content aspects of the industry, the program offers students a range of courses with practical and real-life application. Courses deal with the marketing, finance, management, accounting, legal, and economic issues facing entertainment and media firms. Industries covered include, film, home video, television, cable, music, sports, and publishing.

    A list of sample courses being offered within the EMT specialization can be found here.

  • Stern Signature Projects

    Stern Signature Projects (SSPs) pair student teams with research centers and global companies to address some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. Structured as semester-long academic independent studies, these opportunities allow students to customize their MBA experience by driving thought leadership across an array of global and interdisciplinary questions. Each semester’s unique projects take place domestically and globally.

    You can find more information about SSPs here.

  • Entertainment & Media Solutions Program

    The Entertainment & Media Solutions (EMS) program provides a group of talented NYU Stern MBAs the opportunity to work on a team to help solve a real business challenge for a global leader in media and entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery. Committed and highly engaged NYU Stern alumni from the company serve as dedicated mentors throughout this semester-long program engagement which culminates in students presenting possible solutions to the business challenges.

  • Craft & Commerce of Cinema: Cannes Film Festival

    This is a specialized EMSA course designed to provide students with a framework for understanding the dynamics of the film industry through lectures with various industry professionals. Past examples of lecturers are John Sloss, Founder of Cinetic Media and Michael Barker, Co-President and Co-Founder of Sony Pictures Classics. Students will have the unique opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival in May.