PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Marc Cantone is an Emmy-nominated kids’ media executive with nearly 15 years of experience creating hit YouTube content, innovating engaging digital formats, and launching platform-first series that capture kids’ attention. As VP of Preschool Digital Content at Nickelodeon, he has played a key role in reshaping the network’s preschool strategy, pioneering a digital-first approach to developing and launching new IP on YouTube. Under his leadership, the team has streamlined production workflows, producing high-quality original animation efficiently, cost-effectively, and at scale—all while staying true to Nickelodeon’s signature humor and heart. Since joining Nickelodeon, Marc has helped grow the network’s preschool YouTube audience from 5 million to nearly 50 million subscribers, generating billions of minutes watched each month. He leads a dynamic team of multi-hyphenate producers known for their speed, creativity, and deep understanding of what makes digital-first content pop. In addition to overseeing digital creative and development, he has built strong partnerships with leading animation studios and audio vendors, fostering collaborations that embrace the quirks of producing for YouTube. Marc understands that in today’s digital landscape, making great content isn’t enough—it needs to be strategically designed for discovery. With kids consuming more media on YouTube than ever before, he works hard to make sure that Nickelodeon’s content cuts through the noise, balancing a unique mix of creative storytelling with strategic insights. Before Nickelodeon, Marc led short-form creative at Sprout/Universal Kids, where he developed innovative YouTube formats and wrote some of the network’s most popular original songs. He also created and wrote podcasts for Pinna and Tinkercast, using his background in songwriting and sound to craft immersive audio experiences for kids. His work has been recognized with awards from Kidscreen, Promax, the Webby Awards, Shorty Awards, Parents’ Choice, and more. Beyond kids' media, Marc has directed a documentary about blind bowlers, shot the pilot for Impractical Jokers, and (somehow) played a key role in reuniting the New Kids on the Block. Passionate about mentorship and the arts, he is a proud mentor for the Children’s Media Association and FutureNow and serves as co-chair of the Advisory Board for the North Fork Arts Center in Greenport, NY. 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 Please RSVP by April 22. Space is limited.