In this edition of the Global Family Enterprise Program’s Family Enterprise Entertainment (FEE) column, we examine the rise and fall of WeWork through two complementary screen interpretations: the Apple TV+ scripted series WeCrashed and the Hulu documentary WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn. Together, they provide more than entertainment; they offer a vivid lens into how decision-making, culture, and governance shape the trajectory of a fast-growing enterprise.
WeCrashed, starring Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto, brings dramatic focus to the personal and professional partnership between Adam and Rebekah Neumann. The show highlights how their shared vision and intense working dynamic drove WeWork’s early momentum, animating a culture centered on bold ambition and community-building. Their relationship became a powerful engine of creativity and growth, illustrating how strong internal partnerships can mobilize teams and define an enterprise’s identity.
The Hulu documentary serves as the factual counterweight. Through interviews with journalists, former employees, and company insiders, it examines the organizational structures — and weak points — that shaped WeWork’s rapid ascent. As the company scaled, gaps in governance, risk oversight, and decision-making discipline became more visible. The documentary offers a grounded look at how charisma and culture can fuel expansion while masking vulnerabilities beneath the surface.
Viewed together, these works underscore a central truth familiar to family enterprises. Vision and partnership can propel extraordinary success, but sustainable growth depends on the systems, guardrails, and decision-making frameworks that support leaders over time. WeWork’s story highlights what happens when ambition outpaces governance and when personal dynamics become inseparable from enterprise strategy.
Themes: Partnership as Power Center, Culture as Legacy, Vision versus Governance
