Stephen Riggio - CEO of Barnes & Noble | The Art of Storytelling
Stephen Riggio - CEO of Barnes & Noble | The Art of Storytelling
References & Resources
Stephen Riggio
Former CEO of Barnes & Noble
Key Topics
Companies & Organizations
The nation's largest bookseller, where Stephen Riggio served as CEO and played a crucial role in its growth and digital transformation.
A publishing arm acquired by Barnes & Noble in 2003 during Stephen Riggio's tenure as CEO.
Show Notes
Steven Riggio served as CEO of Barnes & Noble from 2002 to 2010, having previously worked alongside his brother Leonard Riggio to help transform the company into the nation's largest bookseller. During his tenure as CEO, he spearheaded the company's digital transformation through the launch of the NOOK e-reader and expansion of bn.com, while also strengthening the company's publishing arm through the acquisition of Sterling Publishing in 2003. Having started at Barnes & Noble in 1975, Riggio played an instrumental role in developing the book superstore model that would revolutionize book retail, helping to grow the business from a single store into America's dominant brick-and-mortar book retailer.
➡️ Talking Points
00:00 — Intro
02:17 — The Common Thread in Stephen’s Work
05:17 — How Stephen Entered the Book World
09:23 — Why Books Still Matter
12:57 — Content Consumption Then vs. Now
17:12 — Life After Being a CEO
21:31 — What Makes a Great Story?
28:52 — Tips for Authors to Market Books
32:50 — The Business of Selling Books
37:07 — Getting Publishers to Believe in You
40:21 — Breaking Into Barnes & Noble
44:35 — The Impact of Translation Projects
52:39 — Wisdom for Listeners
56:06 — Finding Purpose After Retirement
1:02:09 — Advice to Younger Self