Emerging Technologies: Podcasts, VR, & New Technologies in storytelling.
Saturday May 17th at PDC Center, Rm1406
12:30pm – 1:30pm
The Panel
MODERATOR
Mariel Salcedo
Mariel Salcedo is a seasoned Creative Producer and Project Manager based in Austin, TX. A graduate of The University of Texas with a degree in Radio-Television-Film, she began her career at Rooster Teeth, where she wore many hats as a creative, producer, and campaign manager. Now thriving in the advertising world, Mariel brings over a decade of experience leading cross-functional teams and driving bold, impactful campaigns. When she’s not managing creative chaos, she’s finding any excuse to hop a flight to Mexico.
A.J. Feliciano
A.J. Feliciano is the General Manager of The Roost Podcast Network (a division of Night Media). Since its inception eight years ago under Rooster Teeth/Warner Bros Discovery, The Roost has positioned itself as an industry thought-leader and podcast home to some of the biggest YouTubers and Twitch streamers on the planet. Prior to developing The Roost, Feliciano earned his stripes at NBCUniversal as an unscripted development executive overseeing various hit series before later cutting his teeth in the gaming start-up world. His ultimate interest is the continued development of the media scene in his home of Austin, Texas.
Feliciano holds a dual MBA degree from Fordham Gabelli School of Business and a BA degree from Rutgers University. He served as the Vice President of NAMIC-Southern California (National Association for Multiculturalism in Communications. 2015-2017), an advisory board member for the Hollywood Diversity Association (2015-2017), and mentor for Colour Entertainment (2016).
Santiago Suarez-Ruiz
Santiago Suarez Ruiz is a creative strategist, producer, and co-founder of STRAYBIRD STUDIOS, a production company in the heart of Austin focused on emerging storytelling and innovative technology.
Born in La Dorada, Caldas, a small city in Colombia, Santiago grew up captivated by television and film, dreaming of one day helping shape the stories that inspired him. He began his journey in the world of 3D animation and VFX, graduating salutatorian from Full Sail University, and went on to work on acclaimed series like gen:LOCK, RWBY, and Red vs. Blue. Over time, his creative pursuits evolved into live-action and digital media, where he has continued to push boundaries as both a storyteller and a strategist.
With over 9 years of experience, Santiago has helped launch, manage, and scale digital channels and IPs across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, generating hundreds of millions of views and building engaged audiences for major brands such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Crunchyroll, State Farm, Dell, and Atlassian. As a Channel Manager and Senior Strategy Lead, he’s built long-term strategies rooted in platform analytics, Gen Z behavior, and innovative content development.
Beyond content creation, Santiago is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He serves as a BRG Leader for Gallos Unidos, a community for Latina/o/x professionals, where he supports initiatives that elevate underrepresented voices. He’s also partnered with organizations like Latinitas and the Austin Film Society, mentoring and creating space for future creatives to thrive.
At his core, Santiago is a passionate builder—of stories, communities, and strategies that resonate. Whether leading teams, crafting IP, or growing digital audiences, he brings a unique blend of creativity, cultural insight, and technical acumen to everything he touches.
Samantha Najera
Working in radio, TV, and film, all-encompassing the marketing and communications industry. Samantha graduated with a B.A., Communications from the University of the Incarnate Word.
For the past 6 years, Samantha has been the driving force behind the Bean and Chisme brand, taking the social media platforms into the hundreds of thousands of followers.
Samantha has shed light onto topics that are commonly taboo to the Hispanic community including mental health awareness, LGBTQ rights, health and wellness, financial literacy and more.
Her passion is to educate and entertain others through the power of relatable storytelling whether it’s through comedic tik toks, stand up performances, speaking engagements, or her infamous comedy sketches.
She’s been an active member for over 20 years, serving on Board of the Westside YMCA in San Antonio for five years and currently serving as Board VP Chair for SJRC Texas. She is also a graduate of the Devos Urban Leadership Initiative as well as Leadership San Antonio Class 45.
When she’s not out at speaking engagements, doing standup, or creating a funny tik tok, she’s having fun with her 10 year old daughter Ava Grace and counts down each day until their next beloved Disney World trip.
Valeria Maldonado
Virginia Novello is a Mexican-Italian actress, writer, and director whose work bridges continents and cultures, blending a deep-rooted love for theater with an evolving career in independent film and screenwriting. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Novello began performing on stage from a young age, cultivating a lifelong devotion to storytelling through performance. At 19, she moved to Los Angeles to study acting for film, an experience that marked the beginning of a multi-faceted career in front of and behind the camera.
Initially drawn to the performative side of cinema, Novello’s trajectory shifted as she became increasingly invested in the power of narrative control and authorship. About 15 years ago, she wrote her first short film—a turning point that sparked her passion for creating original work. Since then, she has written and produced a range of projects, including short films, commercials, stage plays, and television pilots, including commissions for Viacom. Among her directorial efforts is Sueños Rotos, a short documentary that aired during the 2014 World Cup across Mexico and Latin America, and Gone, a film that has since been adopted by Fundación PAS as an educational tool to raise awareness about sexual abuse.
Now based in Los Angeles, Novello remains active in both the U.S. and Mexican entertainment industries. As she continues to write, direct, and act, her work reflects an ongoing commitment to challenging industry norms, elevating underrepresented perspectives, and creating art that resonates across cultures and communities.
Virginia is 1/3 of the filmmaking team behind Tres Sisters represented at this years Conference along side Marta Cross and Valeria Maldonado.
To attend this panel, please purchase a Conference Badge.