Q&A with Morning Brew Founder and CEO Alex Lieberman
Alex Lieberman, the co-founder and CEO of Morning Brew, has transformed how young professionals consume business news. With a sharp focus on delivering engaging, relevant content, Morning Brew has grown from a simple newsletter to a media powerhouse. In this Q&A, Alex shares insights into his journey, the challenges he faced, and his vision for the future of media.
Q: What inspired you to start Morning Brew?
Alex Lieberman: The inspiration for Morning Brew came during my time at the University of Michigan. I noticed that my classmates weren’t engaging with traditional business news sources. The content was either too dry or overwhelming for people who were busy but still wanted to stay informed. I saw an opportunity to create a more engaging, digestible way to consume business news—something that felt like a conversation with a well-informed friend.
Description: Alex Lieberman, co-founder and CEO of Morning Brew, sharing insights during an interview about his journey in building a successful media company.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early days of Morning Brew?
Alex Lieberman: In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was distribution. We had a great product, but getting it in front of people was tough. We relied heavily on word-of-mouth and referrals to grow our subscriber base. Additionally, as a small startup, we had to be very resourceful with our budget. We couldn’t afford big marketing campaigns, so we focused on creating content that people would naturally want to share.
Q: How did you know that Morning Brew was on the right track?
Alex Lieberman: One of the key moments for us was when we started getting unsolicited feedback from subscribers who told us that reading Morning Brew had become part of their daily routine. They would tell us how they appreciated the tone, the brevity, and how it made them feel more confident in their understanding of business news. That’s when we knew we had something special.
Q: Morning Brew has grown significantly since its inception. What are your thoughts on managing that growth?
Alex Lieberman: Managing growth is always a balancing act. On one hand, you want to scale quickly to capture market share, but on the other hand, you don’t want to lose the essence of what made you successful in the first place. For us, it’s been about staying true to our core values—creating content that’s both informative and entertaining—while also building the infrastructure and team needed to support a larger operation.
Q: How do you see the future of media, especially in the context of digital transformation?
Alex Lieberman: The future of media is going to be driven by personalization and trust. People are overwhelmed with content, so they’re looking for sources that curate information in a way that feels relevant to them. At the same time, trust is more important than ever. With so much misinformation out there, media brands that can build and maintain trust with their audience will thrive. For Morning Brew, that means continuing to prioritize accuracy, transparency, and delivering value in every piece of content we create.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own media companies?
Alex Lieberman: My biggest piece of advice is to focus on solving a real problem for your audience. Don’t just create content for the sake of it—think about what your audience needs and how you can deliver that in a way that’s different from what’s already out there. Also, be patient. Building an audience takes time, and you need to be consistent and persistent. Finally, don’t be afraid to iterate. The media landscape is always changing, so being adaptable is key.
Q: What’s next for Morning Brew?
Alex Lieberman: We’re excited about expanding into new content verticals and reaching new audiences. We want to continue to build on the foundation we’ve created with Morning Brew by exploring new formats and platforms. Whether that’s through podcasts, video, or other digital experiences, our goal is to keep innovating and finding new ways to connect with our audience.
Q: How do you maintain work-life balance while running a rapidly growing company?
Alex Lieberman: Work-life balance is definitely a challenge, especially when you’re passionate about what you do. I’ve found that setting clear boundaries and making time for things outside of work, like exercise and spending time with family and friends, is crucial. It’s also about being efficient with your time at work so that you can fully disconnect when you’re not working.
Description: The Morning Brew team working together in their office, reflecting the collaborative spirit that drives the company's success.
Q: What are some of your personal and professional goals for the future?
Alex Lieberman: Personally, I want to continue growing as a leader and finding ways to give back to the entrepreneurial community. Professionally, my goal is to keep pushing Morning Brew forward and exploring new opportunities for growth. I’m excited about the potential to expand into new areas and continue delivering value to our audience in innovative ways.
Conclusion
Alex Lieberman’s journey with Morning Brew is a testament to the power of innovation, persistence, and staying true to your vision. As Morning Brew continues to evolve, it’s clear that Alex and his team are committed to delivering high-quality, engaging content that meets the needs of their growing audience.
