Dan Goman

Dan Goman is the founder and CEO of Ateliere Creative Technologies, a leading cloud-native media supply chain company that empowers media companies and content creators to reach consumers on a global scale. Dan Goman has been a trailblazer in digital media and technology, dedicated to fostering innovation in the sector. Over the course of the past two decades he has worked for multiple well-known media companies, where he was instrumental to the progress and development of their technology.

Goman was born in western Romania during the communist regime. His parents, both university professors, were dismissed from their positions for openly opposing the government’s totalitarian policies and religious restrictions. Facing hardships in providing for Goman and his eight siblings, the family sought political asylum in the United States. They emigrated from Romania when Goman was seven years old.

After settling in Los Angeles and then Seattle, Goman learned English by immersing himself in books. His fascination with technology began early in his life when his father bought an old IBM computer and some floppy discs. Goman taught himself programming on this computer, sparking his interest in technology at an early age. Later, he gained firsthand experience with the intricacies of running a business by assisting his parents with their copy and print center.

Goman’s career led him through diverse roles in large technology companies.. He ventured into large enterprise software companies, including Computer Associates International Inc., where he led technology implementations for companies like Boeing and American Express. At Microsoft, he held various key positions in both the IT and product organizations. Goman started working with the media & entertainment industry while at Microsoft in the Windows Media Center organization.

Drawing from his experience in the technology and media sector, Goman’s unique perspective inspired him to found Ateliere Creative Technologies. Understanding the industry’s trajectory, he prioritized internal technology development over reliance on third parties, and with a team of experts he developed the Ateliere Connect media supply chain platform. Ateliere is recognized for innovative cloud-based solutions and industry standards adoption and progression. Goman’s vision for a complete cloud-based media supply chain platform that orchestrates the entire content workflow, from concept to consumer, positions the company as a leader.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My days don’t exactly follow a routine; each one tends to throw its own mix of challenges and surprises at me. But if there’s one thing that’s a constant, it’s the endless meetings and phone calls. They pretty much take over my schedule, leaving me with barely any time to focus without interruptions.

I’ve found that my golden hours for productivity are actually late at night. Once everything quiets down and distractions are few and far between, that’s when my thoughts clear up. It’s in those quiet late hours that I really get to tackle the big stuff, the work that needs my full attention. Somehow, the stillness of the night helps me push forward on projects that would otherwise be stuck in the daytime hustle.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I attribute our success largely to our team’s ability to quickly transform ideas into reality. I firmly believe in the power of rapid iteration. Rather than striving for perfection on day one, we prioritize getting a functional solution in place and refining it through iterative improvements. We understand that perfection is a journey, not an immediate destination. Our commitment to iterating alongside our customers has been instrumental in achieving the best possible outcomes. By involving our customers in the iterative process we’ve been able to gain valuable feedback that guides us towards delivering solutions that truly meet their needs and expectations.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The advances in biohacking are super interesting to me. While there are various types and degrees of biohacking, I consider myself a “sensible biohacker” that combines extensive data collection with naturopathic remedies to achieve measurably optimal health and performance. This approach also includes incorporating genetic data into the overall data pool, enabling health-related decisions that have long-term impacts.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Sobriety. I am unapologetically sober, no compromises. Substances that have mind altering properties are off limits to me. There are many personal reasons for this approach, but I find that facing life uninebriated and sober is the biggest rush of all. The good, the bad – face it head on and experience it.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Understanding that success takes time has been a significant lesson for me. When I was younger I was overly eager to achieve immediate results, often at the expense of my well-being. The constant stress, sleepless nights, and overall decline in health taught me the importance of patience. I’ve come to realize that success is not achieved overnight; it requires perseverance and a steady, measured approach.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

The future of content consumption lies not in further fragmentation, but in re-aggregation and personalized content bundles, facilitated by advanced cloud technologies and AI. Currently, the trend is towards an ever-growing assortment of streaming platforms, each with its own subscription. This fragmentation leads to what many of us experience as ‘subscription fatigue’ where the abundance of choices actually complicates rather than simplifies our viewing habits. While it might seem that more options would offer greater control and customization, the reality is that it often results in a disjointed and overwhelming consumer experience.

Imagine personalized content bundles tailored to individual preferences through the power of cloud technologies and AI. By harnessing the scalability of cloud solutions and the analytical prowess of AI, we can craft offerings that not only alleviate ‘subscription fatigue’ but also cater to the evolving demands for both choice and convenience.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Stay physically fit and never let a week pass without at least one good workout. I firmly believe that maintaining a healthy body and mind is essential for sustaining productivity and success in this lifestyle, which can be quite demanding.

To ensure I’m at my best I’ve adopted a regimen that includes regular workouts and exploring various naturopathic treatments. In particular, I dedicate time each week to IV vitamin therapy, which helps replenish my system with essential vitamins and minerals Additionally, I incorporate cryotherapy sessions into my routine to provide my body with the reset it needs to be productive. Recently, I’ve also begun integrating hyperbaric oxygen treatments, which have produced significant and immediate health benefits.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Listen to the customer, deliver what they ask for, and you have the dream platform. Customers are your best critics; at the end of the day, they are your target audience. Quick iterations to perfection are one of the key components of our business model, and we can do that thanks to the magic of the cloud. No matter how many rigorous tests you do, your customers will find increasingly more creative ways to break your products or find loopholes in your services. In that way, you can consider customers to be the best beta testers available, and being open about that with them from the outset is one of the ways we have been able to scale our business the way we have.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Failure is part of the equation as an entrepreneur, but it’s also an integral part of the journey. My best advice for overcoming failure is to anticipate it and cultivate the skills to learn from it swiftly. Experience is the best teacher you have, so it is essential to develop the mindset of seeing failures as some of the best opportunities for growth and improvement. In allowing yourself the freedom to fail, you also make better business decisions by avoiding risky situations or ideas because a fear of failure prevents you from truly innovative thinking.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

The cable industry is a dead business. The landscape has shifted dramatically, particularly in the past six to twelve months, with the rapid acceleration of cord-cutting. This phenomenon, where individuals opt out of traditional cable subscriptions, has unfolded astonishingly quickly. It’s evident that the cable industry recognizes the stark reality: the current business model is no longer sustainable. Content owners continue to demand exorbitant fees, reminiscent of the days when cable operators boasted millions of subscribers. However, the subscriber base has dwindled significantly, transitioning from millions to mere tens of thousands. This downward trajectory suggests that the cable industry is facing extinction.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

The Oura ring is one of the best products that help monitor my health. It’s kind of pricey but worth it. What I like most about it is its ability to analyze my sleep. Using a combination of hardware sensors and software, it analyzes my patterns and quality of sleep to help me achieve optimal levels. I have learned so much about the importance of sleep for our overall well-being and productivity. In the past, it was a source of pride to be able to say that I was operating on little to no sleep. Now I work very hard to achieve good quality sleep—even if it’s not as lengthy as I would like.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

For the media and entertainment technology community, I recommend MovieLabs 2030 Vision. While not quite a book, it provides core principles and a solid roadmap for adopting new technologies in content production, post-production, and visual effects. As stated by the authors, the end goal is to be “more efficient, flexible, and faster.” Given the dramatic changes in our industry, these goals are imperative.

Key learnings

• Innovative business ideas often arise from recognizing shifts in consumer behavior and technological advancements.
• Prioritizing physical and mental well-being is fundamental for sustaining productivity and success in any endeavor.
• Embracing an iterative approach to product development ensures continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
• Face life sober. It’s a rush.