Malick Diop is the Chief Financial Officer of Hoorae Media, Issa Rae’s multi-platform entertainment company, and a former Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, where he led the firm’s Financial Institutions Investment Banking group focused on mortgage and residential REIT sectors. Over his career, he has advised multibillion-dollar corporations on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and long-term growth strategy.
At Hoorae, Malick oversees the financial and strategic operations of all divisions—including Hoorae Film and TV, Ensemble (branded entertainment), Raedio (audio), Color Creative (talent management), and RaeBuilds (real estate).
Malick holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School and a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, bringing deep knowledge and experience in aligning creativity with financial rigor.
At BRIDGE Summit, Malick Diop will share how he applies investment banking discipline to the creative world, showing how clear financial strategy, smart capital decisions, and operational focus can turn bold ideas into thriving, sustainable entertainment businesses.
The creator economy is set to exceed $500 billion by 2027, driven by over 50 million individuals building businesses on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon, according to Goldman Sachs. While brand deals remain dominant, creators are increasingly monetizing through subscriptions, affiliate marketing, merchandise, and direct-to-fan models. The UAE is at the forefront of this shift, with initiatives like the New Media Academy, 1 Billion Followers Summit, and regulatory exemptions contributing AED 2.5 billion to GDP in 2024. As monetization channels multiply and governments invest in creator-friendly infrastructures and supports, how can creators further grow revenue stacks to reflect their values, engage their communities, and support long-term growth?
Vice President, Microsoft AI
Founder & CEO, KOMI
Managing Partner, The Odysseus Partnership
Chief Corporate Affairs & Brand Officer, IBM
President & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute
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