J.B. Miller felt drawn to the entertainment industry at an early age. Whether he was auditioning for roles in musical theater, watching comedy performances or attending concerts, he would dream about building a career as an entertainer. He went through phases of wanting to become an actor, director and producer.
Now as the president and CEO of global conglomerate Empire Entertainment, which he founded in 1993, Miller works behind the scenes for companies and stars such as Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey, putting on personal events and others such as the Time 100 Gala. He works out of the firm’s SoHo office.
Miller says this role gives him the autonomy to dabble in a little of all his interests. He oversees the company’s projects but also takes part in scriptwriting, hiring talent and planning logistics. He says that in order to consistently engage audiences, he and his team have to stay ahead of the latest trends.