Former Marvel CEO Peter Cuneo: How to Lead Through Change, Crisis, and Turnarounds | Leadership | E51

What do modern business and team leaders get wrong about leadership?

Peter Cuneo's path to leadership began long before he became the CEO who helped lead Marvel Entertainment's remarkable turnaround. Growing up in a military family taught him how to adapt to constant change, lessons that would later shape his service as a naval officer in Vietnam and a career spent rescuing struggling companies. Today, Peter is one of the business world's most respected turnaround leaders, helping organizations build stronger cultures and navigate uncertainty. In this episode, he joins Tim to share the leadership lessons that shaped his journey, why great leaders run toward problems instead of away from them, and what it takes to inspire people through change.

In This Episode, Tim and Peter Discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:07) Learning Leadership Before the Boardroom

(15:08) The Leadership Mistake Most Managers Make

(21:16) Saving a Company Means Making Hard Choices

(28:36) Betting on Robert Downey Jr. and Saving Marvel

(37:43) The Empathy Advantage in Leadership

Peter Cuneo is a bestselling author, investor, and board chairman. He is the former CEO of Marvel Entertainment during its transformation into one of the world's most valuable entertainment companies. He has spent decades helping organizations create growth through strong leadership. Today, Peter speaks globally on leadership, serves on multiple boards, hosts two podcasts, and is the author of Superhero Leadership.

Resources Mentioned: 

Peter’s Book, Superhero Leadership: 28 Ways to Lead with Courage, Strength, and Compassion: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510783849