Prerna Suri is the Vice President of Communications for Asia and the Middle East at Sony Music Entertainment. In this executive role, she drives regional commercial growth by safeguarding corporate reputation, aligning brand strategies, and anchoring the business at the forefront of digital media innovation. With over 20 years of experience, she has held senior roles at Al Jazeera, BBC, Meta, and Cisco. Her journey from a foreign correspondent—reporting on the Syrian refugee crisis, the Darfur crisis, and the Sri Lankan conflict—to a corporate leader has honed an unparalleled ability to craft authentic, high-impact narratives rooted in empathy and rigor. Working through complex humanitarian crises and shifting political landscapes taught her that credibility comes from clarity, listening, and substance rather than spin.
How many years have you been a judge?
This is my first year!
What are your responsibilities in your current role and what do you love most about your job?
As Vice President of Corporate Communications for Asia and the Middle East at Sony Music Entertainment, I lead regional communications strategy, corporate reputation, and media engagement across one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic cultural landscapes. What I love most is the dual privilege of honing the enduring narrative of an iconic music label and being entirely in service of our artists—amplifying their creative achievements and watching their stories resonate on a global stage.
What inspired you to pursue your career path?
My path was forged in the discipline of broadcast journalism, where I learned early on that storytelling is the ultimate bridge for human connection. Having spent years in newsrooms and conflict reporting, I saw firsthand how narrative shapes reality. Transitioning into entertainment and corporate communications was a natural evolution: I wanted to channel that same journalistic rigor into an industry that moves hearts and minds, recognizing that impactful, authentic communications are foundational to building a brand’s enduring share of voice and cultural resonance.
What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?
My first job was in print journalism as a newspaper reporter. It was an invaluable experience that taught me the non-negotiable value of deep listening, respecting deadlines, cultivating absolute resilience under pressure, and the profound responsibility of giving voice to the voiceless. Those foundational lessons in truth-seeking and empathy remain the bedrock of how I approach storytelling and leadership today.
What do you look for to determine excellence in video?
True excellence in video lives at the intersection of rigorous craft and undeniable emotional truth. I look for compelling narrative arcs, nuanced character development, and a strong foundational storytelling spine. Beyond the technical execution, the gold standard is emotive quality—work that doesn’t just capture an audience’s attention for a moment, but leaves a lasting, visceral imprint long after the screen goes dark.
Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?
Creativity for me is less about a grand strategy and more about quiet unlearning. I try to step away from the digital hum regularly, leaning on meditation and moments of stillness to let the mental clutter settle. I’ve also learned that my best ideas rarely come from inside my usual bubble, so I make a deliberate effort to step into unfamiliar spaces and listen to people whose worlds look entirely different from my own.
What excites you about judging for the Telly Awards?
What excites me most is witnessing the relentless evolution of our industry. The Telly Awards celebrate bold, boundary-pushing creativity, and seeing how creators continuously raise the bar is deeply inspiring. I look forward to immersing myself in outstanding work that redefines what modern storytelling can achieve.
