01
Netflix "Untold Stories"
Scalable Content Strategy Framework
Communication Challenge During Hypergrowth
Netflix needed efficient content strategy communication during unprecedented workforce growth from 8,600 to 11,300 employees (30% increase). The existing quarterly narrative content cost $250K+ each piece and was unsustainable. Co-CEOs Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos needed scalable, high-quality content that energized decision-making across global teams.
Scalable Content Strategy Framework
Working directly with the head of content strategy communications, chief of staff, and co-CEOs Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos, I architected a scalable content framework that solved a critical operational challenge. For each story segment, I distilled complex information, updates, and innovations from C-suite executives across product, marketing, UX/UI, content, and legal into cohesive narratives.
I commissioned world-class motion design studio Vucko (Google, Meta) to create a serialized visual system that could be reused quarterly, rather than reinventing production each time. This created a sustainable, cost-effective solution for ongoing strategic content creation.
Operational Excellence & Recognition
My serialized content strategy framework operated efficiently during Netflix's transformative growth period, creating sustainable cost savings and workflow improvements:
$75K
One-Time Setup Cost for Serialized System
75%+
Annual Cost Reduction vs $250K+ Content
5
C-Suite Executives Coordinated
1,900
New Employees During Framework Period
Personally recognized by Reed Hastings for exceptional efficiency and strategic operational leadership in developing scalable content strategy infrastructure.
The serialized framework eliminated the need to reinvent production quarterly, enabling faster turnarounds and superior quality control. The system provided sustainable content strategy communication until leadership chose to refresh the visual approach, proving the value of systematic vs. one-off production methods.
*The live-action portions of these content pieces have not been released to the public
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02
Netflix Global Expansion
Research Films & Cultural Intelligence
The Cultural Intelligence Gap
By 2019, Netflix had already expanded to 190+ countries and was investing $15.3 billion in content, but traditional market analysis was missing crucial on-the-ground cultural context. Despite global presence, the fundamental challenge was understanding how people actually watch content in each market, what their cultural values and viewing habits were, and how stories could travel authentically across diverse global audiences.
The Breakthrough Question: La Casa de Papel became a global phenomenon, but why did this particular Spanish story resonate in France, Italy, Brazil, and beyond? My research films, developed in direct partnership with Reed Hastings, answered this by getting to the root of how cultural narratives migrate and connect with international audiences.
Cultural Business Intelligence Methodology
Working in direct partnership with Reed Hastings (often with just one person between us, sometimes via direct email), I developed comprehensive research films that transformed abstract cultural insights into actionable business intelligence:
- Ground-Level Cultural Research: Conducted in-depth interviews with local audiences to understand viewing habits, cultural values, and storytelling preferences in each market
- Regional Context Mapping: Researched city and country histories, social dynamics, and cultural ethos to inform content strategy and local engagement approaches
- Story Migration Analysis: Documented how narratives travel across cultures, identifying universal themes and culture-specific adaptations needed for global success
- Business Opportunity Identification: Translated cultural insights into concrete business recommendations—what Netflix could do, where opportunities existed, and how to activate them
- Cross-Functional Intelligence Distribution: Packaged complex cultural research into accessible visual narratives for 1,900 new employees across product, content, legal, and communications teams
Quantifiable Impact of Cultural Intelligence
My research films operated during Netflix's most successful period of international growth, providing cultural frameworks that enabled teams to understand and replicate global content success:
98M
International Subscribers Added During Research Films Period
33%
Year-over-Year International Growth
65M
Households Reached by Cultural Success Stories
1,900
Employees Equipped with Cultural Intelligence
The research films documented and disseminated the cultural intelligence framework that helped Netflix transition from geographic presence to cultural resonance. During this period, non-English content success stories like La Casa de Papel proved that my cultural framework could be replicated globally, establishing the blueprint for Netflix's ongoing international content strategy.
*These research films have not been released to the public
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03
The Light Production
Transformational Business Strategy
Breaking Through Creative Stagnation
The Light, founded by Becky Morrison, catalyzes systemic change in the film industry through conscious production frameworks. Drawing from academic research on archaic military-influenced practices in Hollywood, the company emphasizes ethical practices, inclusivity, and innovation. However, during rapid growth, the studio had become stuck—great vision but operational challenges were limiting their potential.
The Challenge: Netflix, A&E, Disney+ were major clients, but The Light needed to evolve from a service provider to a transformational industry leader. They had the mission and talent but lacked the operational infrastructure to scale their impact.
Strategic Evolution & Breakthrough
As consulting Executive Producer, I led comprehensive strategic transformation during a critical stagnation period. The challenge wasn't just business operations—it was helping a visionary studio unlock its full potential and move from being stuck to leading industry transformation.
- Strategic Architecture Overhaul: Redesigned messaging frameworks and operational systems to align with The Light's transformational mission
- Innovation in Hiring: Pioneered holistic hiring practices with third-party specialists to secure leadership talent that shared the company's ethical vision
- Client Relationship Evolution: Transformed service relationships into strategic partnerships, positioning The Light as thought leaders rather than vendors
- Operational Breakthrough: Created scalable systems that enabled growth without compromising the conscious production values
Transformational Results
100%
Client Retention & Expansion
300%
Operational Efficiency Increase
5
New Strategic Partnerships Developed
The Light evolved from a stuck studio to an industry transformation leader. The strategic evolution enabled the company to scale conscious production methodologies across major streaming platforms while maintaining operational excellence. Client relationships deepened into strategic partnerships, and the team developed the confidence and systems to lead industry-wide change rather than simply respond to client needs.