Ana Saraí is a Mexican American award-winning Multicultural Communications Strategist with 20 years of experience in all aspects of project management, communications and outreach for consumer, and partner relations for non-profit and government clients.

How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I am honored to have the opportunity to be exposed firsthand to all the creativity and talent that comes through the Telly Awards. As a Telly award recipient, I know what competition is though because there is so much talent out there, so I am excited to be part of this process.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

I started as a production assistant at my local TV station. It taught me to become a critical thinker and to be nimble in order to make the right decisions on the spot.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

I’ve been in the business for more than 20 years, so there are definitely many projects that are highlights in my career, but the most recent one that I am so proud of is the work my team and I did during the COVID pandemic. We were part of a multiyear national COVID-19 public education campaign on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In collaboration with other agencies, we created public health messaging that was not only credible and personal, but it also was delivered from trusted messengers. This project is close to my heart because we were able to actually help save lives.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

The most challenging part of my job is when we try to challenge our clients to be more creative. I work with a lot of clients who are afraid of trying different approaches and/or just want to check the box.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

As a former journalist, I am looking forward to see the portrayal of the human side messaging and storytelling, as well as the film/video details (music, flow, lightening, etc).

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I currently serve as HCN’s COO, but I am proud to continue to be part of the delivery team (production/creative and clients services teams). What I love the most of what I do is that I get to help and connect our communities/audiences with major services/clients.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

I got inspired by the opportunity to be able to be part of a 360 degree process. I used to be a TV journalist, but learning about all the work that needs to be done behind the scenes to produce an award-winning project, blew my mind.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

One of the significant changes that I have been following in video/TV/film industry is the tools needed to create diverse and high quality videos. I remember when the huge and heavy video tape recorders / cameras were a thing. Now a days, we can record a good quality video with a phone, isn’t that crazy? I navigate these changes by keeping up with technology as much as I can. It’s extremely important for us to stay relevant in this industry, especially with the rise of all the new AI tools.