Ben Weitz

Ben Weitz’ career has been built on connecting people to purpose and passion across the public and private sectors. As executive director at Shangri La, he brings deep experience in driving strategic transformation, partnerships and organizational leadership to inspire positive and impactful change. Prior to joining the Doris Duke Foundation, Weitz was UCLA’s inaugural chief brand officer. 

His expansive background includes serving as senior vice president and general manager for Loot Crate, an e-commerce startup he led to profitability, a decade-long career at Disney spanning global roles across the enterprise marketing Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm properties and leading consumer product strategy for Disney Store and Theme Parks worldwide as well as hospitality marketing roles. He started his career at Universal Music where he established the college and lifestyle marketing function in Hawaiʻi. 

Weitz earned a Master of Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he worked to produce Ka Leo O Nā Keiki, the Hawaiʻi Student Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use Study statewide report commissioned by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health to understand student trends and outline treatment and prevention needs across the islands. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA.