According to Paul Caine, a leader is someone who has a vision that could help improve people’s lives and can mobilize people and resources to make that vision a reality.
Caine, BA’86, has established a new scholarship fund for Media School students who have proven to be leaders at the university and in their communities. The Caine Family Scholarship aims to foster the next generation of media leaders.
“To be a leader in the media industry, like any other industry, you have to be creative, empathetic and flexible,” said Caine, CEO at PC Ventures, Executive Chairman at Engine Group and Executive Chairman at Telaria. “Media is ever evolving, and what you see today won’t be relevant in five years. You always need a deep understanding of your consumers and adapt as they evolve into the future.”
In his various leadership roles, Caine has been able to exhibit the qualities of a leader he describes. Over the past two decades, he worked at Time Inc., overseeing some of the world’s largest magazine brands, such as People, InStyle and Entertainment Weekly. As CEO, he led the rebranding of WestwoodOne. At Bloomberg, Caine oversaw the global advertising, marketing and ad operations for Bloomberg Media.
Caine credits a large part of his success to his education and experiences at IU.
“I loved my time at Indiana University, and I think back on it as one of the most important foundational experiences of my adult life,” said Caine, who majored in telecommunications with a minor in business. “I draw from those experiences every day.”
His appreciation for IU, coupled with the promise of the new Media School, helped Caine and his family decide to set up the scholarship fund for IU students, he said. The fund, which is part of the Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign, qualifies to be matched by the university.
“My family and I wanted to invest in the future of IU,” Caine said. “We believe that the new Media School will provide a unique opportunity to educate and train the leadership for industry’s next generation. Indiana and The Media School will provide a unique curriculum and environment to attract students who will be the media leaders of the future.”
Caine said he hopes the impact of the scholarship fund will extend beyond the scholarship recipients and serve to motivate Media School students to excel and achieve their best.
Establishing the Caine Family Scholarship is not the only way Caine has given back to the university. He has been involved with the College of Arts and Sciences’ Luminaries program and was a founding member of The Media School Dean’s Advisory Board. Caine lives in New Jersey with his wife, Pam, and their three children.