How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

This is a wonderful opportunity to see innovation in motion and to be part of recognizing global work pushing creativity and the industry forward.

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

Modeling was a crash course in adaptability to new teams and environments, delivering under pressure, self-advocacy, and navigating creative egos. Casting calls, with their frequent ‘nos’, instilled a resilience that’s served me well.

As I moved behind the camera and rose from talent to fashion editor, to EP, and eventually President of a global fashion film festival featuring the very brands I used to get rejected by, I find so much humor and perspective in it.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

I am drawn to that sweet spot where skill meets genuine emotion, whether it is highly produced or beautifully basic. What matters most is how it all comes together to connect with the intended audience. Does it spark conversation? Does it stick with you? The best videos are a feast for the senses. While polished perfection always has its place, sometimes simple, raw, or gritty content resonates more deeply.

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

I am the Founder of the Cultural Diplomacy Innovation Center (CDIC), an advisory and global community of leaders re-shaping culture, commerce, connection, and impact. I love the balance between working on high-touch legacy projects with institutions, brands, and curating intimate member experiences.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

I heavily rely on spontaneity and bringing together people from wildly different fields, like pairing chefs with engineers, or artists with scientists. This always leads to surprising and innovative ideas that shake up conventional thinking, create memorable consumer experiences, and drive social impact.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

At first glance, my career path might seem eclectic, spanning tech, media, luxury, hospitality, sports, entertainment, arts & culture, heritage, higher education, and entrepreneurship. But the common thread weaving through all these experiences has been my unwavering passion for culture and people. This driving force has consistently guided my choices and shaped my journey, regardless of the chapter I have found myself in.

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?

A great case study is Netflix’s recent expansion into video podcasts in partnership with Spotify, iHeartMedia, and Barstool Sports. This move marks a seismic shift in content distribution and consumption. Exclusivity deals for video rights, while maintaining audio on original platforms, however, can create a complex ecosystem.

This fragmentation is already impacting shows like The Breakfast Club, which is suffering significant audience loss in the transition. Some viewers have expressed feeling alienated, citing their preference for YouTube, which provides free access and unmatched discovery. This new model could also affect the creation and spread of viral clips, a key driver of podcast visibility and engagement. Moreover, the vibrant community interactions, real-time banter, and instant feedback loop fostered in YouTube’s comment sections are entirely absent in a Netflix format.

It’s too early to determine best practices. For all we know, this disruption to established listener habits and friction in content discovery was a calculated risk on their part. Only time will tell.