Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulette E. Pantoja.
Paulette E. Pantoja is Founder and CEO of BLU, the parent company of BluFocus and BluEvo, which manages, processes, qualifies and distributes film/tv content to video streaming platforms using its BluCloud™ technology.
Since the company’s founding in 2007 (which she did on her own and without investment in her apartment), Paulette has helped BLU play an increasingly influential role within the home entertainment industry.
Throughout her career, Paulette has focused on proprietary workflows and her patented applications that help streamline key operational aspects for entertainment industry companies. These cloud-based automated systems improve business operations by providing transparency, control, flexibility and greater efficiencies.
Paulette earned a BA in Film and Television from UCLA; an MBA from Pepperdine University, a graduate of the Executive Program at UCLA Anderson School of Management and the Goldman Sachs 10ksb program.
She is currently a mentor for the UCLA Mentorship Program, a Board Member of the Youth Mentoring Connection and a Chair for Miles of Music 5k, an annual event that supports the non-profit organization YMC which provides mentoring and support to at-risk youth. She is also a founding member and mentor for EWA (Exceptional Women Awardees), a non-profit organization that assists women rise to executive positions in their respective industries.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Doing something you love is the easy part. If you love your job, then you come to work with a smile on your face and a drive to always do better and achieve more. I have this with my job and I love it.
However, as a business owner, there are issues unrelated to what your business does. They are more political, financial, etc. related. And this impacts you mentally and it affects your family and your health.
Areas that are out of your control such as cash flow issues and industry politics can be quite disruptive. I’ve had my share of health related issues due to this. Stress is a silent killer and unless managed properly can do just that. I have had to shift my way of thinking and way of dealing with these topics in order to not let it negatively affect me.
Company related, our company culture has seen its ups and downs and I have had to work hard on learning how to become a better leader to ensure my employees are not only happy at work, but proud of it. This is harder for me now since we have grown to 116 employees. The intimacy that I once had is more difficult to maintain. It is a constant work in progress, but overall I live by the rule that I also work for my employees and not just the other way around. That means constantly checking in, asking how I can help and giving them the support they need in order to succeed.
I have to be ok with not 100% succeeding with this all the time, but I know that I am 100% of the time making the best effort.
I am proud that we have flourished despite the ups and downs of the economy, the growth spurts and the hurdles. We have remained positive with a drive to do and be better. Change is good and a necessity since complacency will make any company slowly wither away. Our goal is to constantly be innovative, take calculated risks and never follow the already paved path.
I work hard towards creating a learning organization where we promote from within. I started the company with this foundation and will always choose someone with a thirst to learn and be better over an individual with multiple degrees and lengthy resume. This means a lot of mentoring, trial and error, etc. But in the end, working with people you get along with who share the same aspirations creates a thriving work environment.
Easy…no. But the hard is what makes it great.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Blu. story. Tell us more about the business.
There are two areas to this question. The story of Blu and its genesis and what Blu “does”.
I started the company on my own in 2007 from my apartment without investment. That was an extreme challenge and during my first year of business developed health problems such as heart palpitations from stress. I have since remained 100% owner. Our team has grown the company by expanding our client base, our service and solution offerings and we now have over 100 employees which shocks me every single time I walk in my office.
Regarding what “Blu” does…
We are in a new era of internet-enabled TV and film. There is an explosion of film/tv content being produced with online video streaming platforms erupting in ubiquity. Video business models have been radically redefined and people are consuming more digital content on different platforms and devices than ever before.
Blu is part of this industry known as the digital media distribution supply chain, which is responsible for creating, managing, and delivering film/tv content to viewers whether it be on online video platforms, DVD/Blu-ray or any other form of media.
Our involvement spans in a few areas. We not only process and deliver film/tv/entertainment content, but we also qualify it to ensure it is looking and sounding the best possible. In addition, we license our proprietary ERP and delivery technology that manages and automates this entire process.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe that you play the hand that you were dealt as if it was the hand that you wanted. Whatever comes at you, you figure it out. I don’t believe in blaming or attributing something going wrong or right solely because of one thing that is out of our control. It’s how you handle situations, good or bad, that define how well we succeed or how badly we fail.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2233 N. Ontario Street
- Website: www.blu-team.com
- Email: info@blu-team.com
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