Off-Campus Community: VIRTUAL: FUTURE NOW Leadership Talk with Nickelodeon's Marc Cantone

Marc Cantone is an Emmy-nominated kids’ media executive with nearly 15 years of experience creating hit YouTube content and leading innovative digital strategies. As Vice President, Preschool Digital Content at Nickelodeon, he pioneered a digital-first approach to launching IP on YouTube, helping grow the network’s preschool audience from 5 million to nearly 50 million subscribers. Marc leads a fast-moving creative team, producing high-quality animation at scale while staying true to Nickelodeon’s signature humor and heart.

Previously, he led short-form creative at Sprout/Universal Kids and developed award-winning podcasts for Pinna and Tinkercast. His work has earned recognition from Kidscreen, the Webby Awards, and more.

Marc is a songwriter and musician. He also directed a documentary on blind bowlers, shot the pilot for Impractical Jokers, and helped reunite New Kids on the Block!

In this Leadership Talk, we will cover:

  • Leading Digital-First Transformation in Kids’ Media - Shifting from traditional broadcast to YouTube-first strategies; building and launching IP with digital-native audiences in mind; balancing innovation with brand legacy (e.g., Nickelodeon’s humor and heart)
  • Audience Growth & Strategy on YouTube - Growing a channel from 5M to 50M subscribers; creating content that is not only engaging, but optimized for discovery
  • Creative Leadership & Team Culture - Leading multi-hyphenate teams in a fast-paced environment; fostering creativity, agility, and experimentation in digital content creation
  • Cross-Platform Storytelling for Young Audiences - Crafting engaging experiences across YouTube, podcasts, and TV; adapting storytelling techniques for visual vs. audio formats
  • Embracing the Unexpected in a Creative Career - Unusual career highlights (e.g., blind bowling documentary, Impractical Jokers, NKOTB reunion); saying yes to strange and surprising opportunities; and how side projects and passion work fuel leadership

For more on Marc, please go to: https://www.futurenowmediafoundation.org/programs

We will have a Q&A with the audience. Please bring your questions.

Please RSVP by April 22. Space is limited.