Episode three of It’s Not Magic’s San Francisco Season features Ghazi, Founder and CEO of EMPIRE and Bay Area native. EMPIRE was founded and built in San Francisco and is now the largest independent record label, distributor, and publisher in the United States, working with artists including Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, and Shaboozey. Since launching EMPIRE in 2010, Ghazi has built a global powerhouse, known for its innovation, artist-first approach to partnership, and cultural impact that extends far beyond the Bay.

Recorded at Sixth Street’s San Francisco headquarters, Sixth Street Co-President David Stiepleman and Ghazi dive into the city’s legacy of technological innovation and entrepreneurship, how Ghazi’s own technical expertise and creativity were foundational to building EMPIRE, and the role culture is playing in San Francisco’s renewal.

Ghazi underscores how important it was for him to build his dream in the city where he grew up, asking, “Why do I have to go somewhere else to do something I’m good at?” With EMPIRE's recent acquisition of the historic One Montgomery building, Ghazi shares his plans to build EMPIRE’s new headquarters in San Francisco’s financial district and inspire the next wave of energy in the city.

Thank you to Ghazi for joining us for this inspiring conversation. 

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