Jason Kilar, founding CEO of Hulu, delivered UNC commencement address
Media and entertainment innovator Jason Kilar delivered the 2015 commencement address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on May 10. Kilar, who graduated from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media in 1993, is the co-founder and CEO of Vessel, and was previously the founding CEO of Hulu.
Barb Lee, a 1988 graduate of the school and president of Point Made Films, gave the J-school's commencement address.
Mary Junck, a 1971 master's graduate of the school and CEO of Lee Enterprises, received an honorary degree from UNC.
For J-school commencement ceremony information, visit jomc.unc.edu/commencement.
“We’re very proud that our J-school alumni are playing such a central role in Carolina’s spring commencement,” said Susan King, dean of the school. “It points to the power of a degree in communications and journalism. There’s an entrepreneurial thread that runs through so many of our grads – embodied so well by Jason, Barb and Mary. These three represent what skills and scholarship can produce when mixed with leadership and drive.”
Lee directed and produced the feature length documentary film “Adopted” that explores the grit rather than the glamour of international adoption. She is executive producer of “The Prep School Negro” documentary that explores how costly scholarships can be for young African American students who attend some of the most elite prep schools in America. Prior to creating her own company, Lee worked in development at Fox TV and at 20th Century Fox Films.
Kilar's career started with an internship at The Walt Disney Company, which led to a job in the strategy and marketing groups of Disney Design and Development after college. After Disney, Kilar continued his education at Harvard Business School, where he received an MBA. In 1997, his final year at Harvard, he was recruited to join Amazon.com.
When he joined Amazon – starting the Monday after his last day of final exams – it was still a relatively small, private company. During his tenure, Kilar was instrumental in introducing a new way of business that focused on the user experience and helped Amazon transform from largely a book retailer to a virtual warehouse that allows consumers to purchase almost anything from seemingly any retailer. His accomplishments included running the company's North America media products businesses, which included its books, music and video categories, and writing the original business plan for Amazon’s entry into the video business.
In 2007, Kilar signed on as the founding CEO of the groundbreaking online video service Hulu. Under Kilar’s leadership, Hulu quickly grew to become one of the world's most popular destinations for streaming television and movies. Today, Hulu generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue, with 6 million paying subscribers and millions of visitors who stream its free content each month.
Kilar left Hulu in 2013. His latest venture Vessel, a next-generation mobile video service that, once again, has the potential to change the way consumers discover and consume video. Vessel will cater to the creators of short-form video by providing a place where their most passionate fans can go to watch their favorites first. In addition to his work with Vessel, Kilar serves on the board of directors at DreamWorks Animation.
"Carolina is honored to have Jason Kilar, a proud alumnus and highly successful entrepreneur, as our commencement speaker," said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. "Jason's innovations have had a significant impact on the way people experience media and entertainment, and his continued accomplishments are an inspiration to all at Carolina who strive to use their talents to do better and do more. Jason's path is particularly relevant to this year's graduates, whose generation is among the most entrepreneurial in history. We are fortunate to welcome such an accomplished individual as part of this important celebration."
"I am humbled by the invitation to speak at Carolina’s 2015 commencement, and honored to accept," said Kilar. "There are few things in life that approach the beauty of a sunny Sunday in May in Chapel Hill. I look forward to returning this spring to the University that I love, to pause by the Old Well, and most importantly, to proudly celebrate the class of 2015 as they set off to change the world."
Kilar earned bachelors of arts degrees in business administration and journalism and mass communication at Carolina in 1993 and received the UNC General Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2010.
Kilar is a 2013 inductee into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in Advertising, which is housed in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. He also delivered the school’s Roy H. Park Distinguished Lecture in October 2009.
Folt chose Kilar in consultation with faculty and staff on the University's Commencement Speaker Selection Committee. His selection is especially timely because many graduates are likely to have grown up using and benefiting from the technological innovations he has helped introduce. His visit also supports Carolina's long-standing culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that encourages students and faculty to explore ideas and take risks.