Get All Access for $5/mo

How Personal Passions Fuel Business Success for the CEO of Vivid Seats On this episode of "The CEO Series," we sit down with Stan Chia, CEO and Board Director of Vivid Seats.

By William Salvi Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

On this episode of The CEO Series, we got a front-row seat to leadership lessons from Stan Chia, CEO and Board Director of Vivid Seats. Vivid Seats is an online ticket marketplace that did over $600 million in 2022. Stan shared amazing insights into running a huge company with over 500 employees, and his personal passions outside the boardroom that keep him energized and engaged.

Below are some highlights from our conversation, which you can see in the full video above.

The best aspect of being a CEO

"For me, the best part of being a CEO is getting to work in an industry that you love and with people that you love every day. It's a privilege to set the direction and vision of the company."

Related: Inside Potbelly's Recipe for Fast Casual Success

On his career path

"I grew up thinking I wanted to be an aerospace engineer. I loved space shuttles and the concept of going to space. I was born in Singapore and grew up in New York. After high school, I was required to go back and serve in Singapore's military. I did that for about three years. I was very fearful, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I've had in terms of formulating who I am. After that, I had the opportunity to study industrial engineering at Georgia Tech. Part of this journey helped me realize that I didn't think a specialized field was something that I wanted to do. So I pivoted into a more general space that allowed me to see more of the world, see more businesses and industries and I eventually landed here at Vivid Seats."

Related: 'Becoming a Unicorn Is Really Just the Beginning' Leadership Lessons From Tech CEO Godard Abel

On the power of diversity

"My skills as a leader stem from an ability to learn, listen, understand and appreciate the diversity of culture. Singapore is a wonderful, multicultural society with lots of different folks who call it home. That great melding of cultures I think helped define a lot of who I am today. I've had the opportunity to go and try to build diverse teams wherever I've worked, and I'm super proud of the fact that when you look at our leadership team at the C-suite level, we've got more than 50 percent female leaders. And when you look at the board that we've put together at Vivid Seats, we came out of the gate with a majority diverse board."

Related: With Over $120 Million in Sales, Dude Wipes Is No Joke. Here's How the Company's Chief Executive Dude Keeps Things Fun and Profitable.

On his personal motivation

"The people who I am privileged to lead motivate me. You know it's that old military phrase, that you go to battle with them every day. You've got to love the troops you're with and I love the team that we've got here, and, of course, the family that supports me in the background. Wanting to do a good job for all of them motivates me. And ultimately really believing in the mission of what Vivid Seats is, and that's to make sure that everybody gets to experience and see those things that they love live."

Check out more profiles of innovative and impactful leaders by visiting The CEO Series archives.

William Salvi

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Producer & Host of The CEO Series | Salvi

William Salvi is executive producer at Salvi, an executive communications and content strategy agency. He hosts the Emmy Award-winning video series The CEO Series. Each episode profiles a business leader and their respective business and provides a humanizing look into the CEO's personal story.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from The CEO Series

Inside a Sport Marketing Giant's Playbook for Connecting Big Brands With Rabid Fans

How Military Service Taught the CEO of Arc'teryx to Lead with Precision and Passion

'Leadership Is Not a Popularity Contest': Lessons from LSU Football Head Coach Brian Kelly

How This Latina CEO Created the Fastest-Growing Hispanic Media Company in the U.S.

Editor's Pick

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Growing a Business

5 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Business's Online Presence

Boosting your online presence in 2025 is the key to success for businesses looking to grow. Working on your branding and reputation management is important to drive more sales and improve conversion.