I’m a communications expert at Laika Communications, where I help brands find their voice and tell their stories with clarity and impact. Beyond my day job, I’m deeply immersed in the craft of writing – both prose and screenwriting. I spend much of my time learning, writing, and exploring the art and structure of storytelling. From dramaturgy and narrative development to character building and world creation, I’m constantly studying how to shape stories that resonate.

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?

Ensuring creative and strategic excellence across the agency and mentoring junior professionals.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

For me it’s all about storytelling and how a story – whether told in writing, video or audio – can move its audience.

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

I started as an intern at Studiocanal Germany where I learned a lot about film distribution and the industry from production to distribution and marketing.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

A human-centric approach and authenticity. I want to feel something—whether it’s joy, sadness, excitement, or anger. For me, excellence in video is less about technical perfection and more about the characters and stories at its heart.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

In my work as a Creative Strategy Director, I get to collaborate with innovative clients, which I find incredibly exciting. As a writer, I’m drawn to fictional stories, where I’m most fascinated by complex character dynamics and the relationships between them.

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

Three come to mind immediately: firstly, movement. I like to go on long walks, breathe fresh air, and let my thoughts roam free. The second is boredom. Creativity takes time, and being bored can create the space for new ideas and unlock new potential. And third, collaboration. Throwing ideas around with fellow creatives can be incredibly inspiring and motivating, and often leads to unexpected directions.

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?

The obvious answer is the rise of AI. I’m personally not a fan of using AI in the arts, but I do think there’s an interesting countertrend happening: audiences seem to be gravitating toward the imperfect, the human, and the authentic. That gives me hope. For me, navigating this shift means staying focused on what makes storytelling human and emotionally resonant.

What excites you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I’m looking forward to seeing creative outputs from all kinds of different minds.