Top 10 Leadership Stories You Can Learn From On The Big And Small Screen

BY: Isabel Donadio - Fagan

Not every successful person is a good leader.

Leadership has been tied to business tycoons, celebrities, and icons alike, but I often wonder if these people reached positive results because of their leadership abilities or despite them. These overachieving individuals have made a name for themselves by driving causes or projects that have changed people's lives forever, but although there is no one way to achieve a task or a mission, I have to wonder if the end justifies the means.

As a student of success and leadership, I love watching shows and movies that depict various success stories. If there is one thing that watching these real-life characters played out on the big and small screen alike has taught me, it's that many times these are less-than-perfect people. Sometimes they are downright criminals or people committing crimes.

Regardless, I always learn something – at times, I'm inspired to do certain things, but at other times, I am convinced to not do some of them. Still, there are thought-provoking stories that will surely raise your money mojo. Here's my list of the top 10 Entrepreneurial Movies and TV Shows to Add to Your Watch List in 2023:

Flamin' Hot, Movie (2023)

This is an American biographical comedy-drama film based on the memoir A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez. It covers the life stories of Montañez and his wife Judy, the former who claimed to have invented "Flamin' Hot Cheetos."

As a second-generation Mexican American, this movie reminded me of my proud heritage and how you should never count out the little guy just because they don't have the same background as you. This movie will inspire new and seasoned entrepreneurs.

(The film was directed by Eva Longoria, written by Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette, and stars Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, and Tony Shalhoub.)

Tetris, Movie (2023)

A biographical thriller film based on true events around the race to license and patent the video game Tetris from Russia in the late 1980s during the Cold War, this movie will have you feeling the highs and lows of pursuing your dreams and going the extra mile to achieve success. It does a great job of tying in the reality of the situation with how agreements and contracts were written up between America and Russia.

(The film was directed by Jon S. Baird, written by Noah Pink, and stars Taron Egerton, Nikita Efremov, Sofia Lebedeva, and Anthony Boyle.)

The Social Network, Movie (2010)

Based on the 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, this American biographical drama film portrays the founding of the social networking website Facebook. It includes storylines for Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Sean Parker, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra.

The power of Facebook is undeniable, and Zuckerberg was a genius when it came to writing the code for the platform, but the way he is portrayed in this movie is the type of individual I would not do business with. This movie is still great as an example of how even if someone is working on something similar to you, never stop until you've reached the finish line.

(The film was directed by David Fincher, written by Aaron Sorkin, and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and Max Minghella.)

WeCrashed, TV Series (2022)

This is an American drama streaming television miniseries about Adam and Rebekah Neumann, the real-life married couple at the heart of WeWork, a coworking space company whose valuation reached $47 billion in 2019 before crashing due to financial revelations. The series is based on the podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork by Wondery.It was hard to finish – watching a brilliant idea slowly crumble due to poor planning and greed was like a train crash in motion, but you couldn't look away. WeWork was a great concept with over 700 buildings in 119 cities, but its quick rise came with unfortunate and hard downfalls.

(The film was initially directed by Damien Chazelle but later replaced by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, written by Drew Crevello and Lee Eisenberg, and stars Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway.)

The Founder, Movie (2016)

An American biographical drama film about businessman Ray Kroc, it depicts the story of his creation of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain which eventually forced out the company's original founders as he took control with conniving ruthlessness.

This is another hard movie to watch because the path Ray Kroc chose ended up being best for himself, but what it did to Richard and Maurice McDonald was a business choice I couldn't get behind. It shares with you ways to take the initiative, but ultimately it's a debate of whether or not you take it too far and hurt people in the process.

(The film was directed by John Lee Hancock, written by Robert Siegel, and stars Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Linda Cardellini, and B. J. Novak.)

Moneyball, Movie (2011)

This American biographical sports drama film is based on the 2003 nonfiction book, "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game," by Michael Lewis. The book is an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team. In the film, Beane and assistant general manager Peter Brand face the franchise's limited budget for players to build a team of undervalued talent by taking a sophisticated sabermetric approach to scout and analyzing players.

Moneyball is a feel-good movie showing how anything is possible when you team up with the right people. You'll be inspired by the fact that you'll have to make the hard choices, but in the end, they will help you achieve your goals.

(The film was directed by Bennett Miller, written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, and stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.)

The Pursuit of Happyness, Movie (2006)

Set in San Francisco in 1981, this American biographical drama film is based on Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle with being homeless. The unusual spelling of the film's title comes from a mural that Gardner sees on the wall outside the daycare facility his son attended. This movie is a classic and a must-see for any list. When you have lost everything and have nothing left to lose, the only way to go is up, and The Pursuit of Happyness tells of how even when your back is up against the wall, you can still succeed.

(The film was directed by Gabriele Muccino, written by Steven Conrad, and stars Will Smith and Jaden Smith)

Super Pumped, TV Series (2022)

This is an American anthology drama television series based on the 2019 nonfiction book of the same name by Mike Isaac. The first installment, titled The Battle For Uber, is based on Isaac's book and focuses on the rise and fall of former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.

This is a recollection of how Uber became so popular and accessible worldwide but is also another example of how you can be a poor leader. Even with a great team to bring together a useful app, this tale shows that a leader can still have faults.

(The film was directed by Allen Coulter, written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Uma Thurman, Kyle Chandler, and Elisabeth Shue.)

Flash of Genius, Movie (2008)

An American biographical drama film based on John Seabrook's 1993 New Yorker article, the story focuses on Robert Kearns and his legal battle against the Ford Motor Company after they developed an intermittent windshield wiper based on the inventor's patented ideas. The film's title comes from the phrase "flash of genius" (like "stroke of genius"), which is patent law terminology that was in effect from 1941 to 1952.

You must love rooting for the little guy in a movie like this, and you can probably relate to the setbacks and successes, which serve as inspiration to never give up. Times are constantly changing, and the reason for this is that people fight for what they worked so hard for.

(This was directed by Marc Abraham, written by Philip Railsback, and stars Greg Kinnear, Dermot Mulroney, and Mitch Pileggi.)

Wolf Of Wall Street, Movie (2013)

An American biographical black comedy crime film based on Jordan Belfort's 2007 memoir of the same name, it recounts Belfort's career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street, leading to his downfall.

This is another example of how someone can inspire you because you want to be different from them. I can't speak for who Belfort is today, but the man he was then is not someone I'd call a friend. To be a leader is to inspire action in the people who work for you, but to be a great one is to make the best of bad choices.

(The film was directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Terence Winter, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Kyle Chandler.)

These stories are based on real people who had a vision for something more for the future, and it all began with a small idea. Through every milestone, they had to overcome obstacles in order to pursue their dream.

Some of these stories teach us what to do, while others show us what not to do. As for myself, it's clear that the ends do not always justify the means, but many times it's a character call I can only make for myself. Part of the joy and the journey of these stories is deciding for yourself what should be replicated. However, you can learn from them all, plus be at least a little entertained along the way.

There is no one way to achieve your goal, so if you feel stuck as a leader, lean on your trusted team to reevaluate and devise a new plan to accomplish your goals and bring your dreams to life. When you come into a new space and are ready to try something you've never done before, no one knows if you've been doing it for five minutes, five months, or five years. So just get started and ask for help when you need it because if you are waiting to begin something after you get good at it, you'll never get started.

Your next idea might be the next million or billion-dollar revelation. Still, you'll only know if you put in the time and effort to fight for what you know is extremely valuable and surround yourself with the right people to help fight with you.

When I first stepped into the entrepreneurial space, I had to rely on my mentors to help guide me and show me the ropes. Years later, I am helping do the same for the next generation of entrepreneurs and business owners who will help shape the future. Mentors willing to take you under their wing will show you the ropes of the industry that they have become an expert in to maneuver conversations, find clients, and write up business deals that will not only keep the lights on but also bring in massive profits.

There are endless possibilities to shape the future – you just have to be willing to become the leader you know you can be.

About the author:

Isabel Donadio is the Founder of Talent Support Services, LLC, DBA Top Talent Agency, which includes TopTalentPublishing.com, TopTalentMag.com, TopTalentJV.com, and TopTAcademy.com. She is the winner of the 2019 TWC Most Outstanding Rising Star Award, the best-selling author of “Finishing is Happiness: 7 Ways Big Idea Entrepreneurs Can Become Big Business Finishers”, and co-author of “Women Gone Wild: The Feminine Guide to Fearless Living and Becoming Significant: How to Invoke Sacred Words That Unlock Real Power”.

Isabel is regularly featured in the media, including the Los Angeles Tribune, USA Today, and Forbes, while also interviewed in K24, KTN News, KUTV, Citizen Television, and Nasdaq. Her experience includes red-carpet interviewing, magazine publishing, best-seller book publishing, and public speaking, and she specializes in content creation, authority marketing, and talent management.

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