Game Changer with Michael Solomon

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From working with Bruce Springsteen to founding Brick Wall Management and 10x Management with his close childhood friend, Rishon Blumberg, Michael Solomon has turned his passions into reality. Most recently, Michael Solomon is the author of Game Changer: How To Be 10x in the Talent Economy (HarperCollins; September 2020), which reveals the secrets to becoming a “10xer” for anyone in any industry.

Brick Wall started as a music management company shaping the careers of musicians like John Mayer, Citizen Cope, and Vanessa Carlton. It racked up Grammy Awards and nominations and more than 10 million albums sold. And it now includes a consulting business that touches nearly every angle of the arts — representing Emmy-award-winning and chart-topping songwriters, producers, directors, and companies.

10x brought Michael’s decades of experience managing creatives to the technology sphere, carving out a place as a trusted, exclusive resource for companies seeking coveted freelance tech experts. Michael frequently discusses tech talent and the challenges surrounding the industry on networks like MSNBC, Bloomberg, BBC. He’s also appeared in publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Forbes, and The Economist.

10x Ascend has grown out of the 10x Management practice of representing high end tech freelancers. Over the years, 10x clients have been coveted by the companies they have freelanced for and often those companies made W2 employment offers to our 10x clients. When this happened, we have helped them negotiate their compensation packages and it quickly became clear that this service was valuable and impactful to our clients but perhaps most importantly, sorely needed. It was this experience that lead Michael and Rishon to create a stand alone company whose sole focus is to help senior level tech talent obtain the most favorable employment terms possible. 10x Ascend has been featured in TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal.

Michael’s extensive nonprofit work includes serving as the pro-bono administrator for  The Kristen Ann Carr Fund (KACF) for sarcoma treatment and research, which was founded in memory of his girlfriend, Kristen Carr. KACF honored him for his years of dedication at their 20th anniversary celebration.

KACF also inspired Michael to co-found Musicians On Call, a nonprofit that brings live music to hospital patients at their bedsides, playing for more than 500,000 people since 1999. MOC currently runs in 18 cities nationally — and counting. He received the 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama for his work with MOC and remains an active member of its Board of Directors.  

Michael has a passion for personal and professional growth and makes it his mission to optimize himself and all of his diverse endeavors.

A born and bred Manhattanite, Michael moved to Montclair, NJ in 2014 with his awesome wife, Jenny, and two fantastic kids, Lucy and Rainen. 

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.