Universal Exec Donna Langley on Being a Woman in Hollywood and Making Tough Decisions

Film Exec Donna Langley joins Maria Sharapova on Pretty Tough to discuss what it's like making consequential decisions at a critical time for the industry.

Donna shares stories about bringing Christopher Nolan to Universal, acquiring the hit horror film Obsession sight unseen, and having the courage to back Wicked after a failed musical. She also talks about finding her own leadership style in a male-dominated industry, without giving up compassion or competitiveness.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction: Meet Donna Langley, the First British Woman to Run a Major Hollywood Studio
02:00 — Leadership by Doing: Why Decency Is a Superpower, Not a Weakness
05:15 — The "Velvet Hammer": Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry Without Losing Your Grace
07:30 — The $150M Gamble: Landing Christopher Nolan and Winning Big with Oppenheimer
14:30 — The Art of Tough Feedback: How to Deliver Hard News with Empathy
17:15 — Spotting "White Space": Trusting Your Gut and Finding Cultural Blind Spots
19:45 — Dusting Yourself Off: Owning Your Mistakes and Overcoming Creative Failure
25:00 — Inside Christopher Nolan's Library: The Intimidating Tradition of Reading a Script Blind
27:15 — Decisive Leadership: Bidding Wars, Overpaying for Obsession, and Managing Risk
32:00 — Accountability as Freedom: How Sitting in Discomfort Makes You a Better Leader
35:45 — The Shared Human Experience: Why the Magic of Movie Theaters Can't Be Replaced
40:00 — The Future of Cinema: AI, Industry Consolidation, and Protecting the Creative Workforce
43:00 — Falling Forward: From an LA Nightclub VIP Room to the Top of Hollywood
46:15 — Championing Get Out: Why Supporting Unconventional Visionaries Pays Off
48:00 — The "Pretty Tough" Rapid-Fire Questionnaire: Unlearning Imposter Syndrome and the Myth of Perfection

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About Pretty Tough
Pretty Tough is the weekly interview podcast hosted by five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova. Each week, Maria sits down with founders, CEOs, athletes, creatives, investors, and other high achievers for candid conversations about leadership, ambition, decision-making, performance, entrepreneurship, wellness, and building exceptional careers.

Drawing from her own experience at the highest levels of sport and business, Maria explores what it really takes to succeed—from navigating failure and reinvention to scaling companies, leading teams, and pursuing excellence over the long term.

About Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is a five-time Grand Slam champion, former World No. 1 tennis player, entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation. Since retiring from professional tennis, she has built businesses, invested in consumer, technology, and lifestyle companies, and become a respected voice on leadership, performance, and entrepreneurship.

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