With a new season comes new members of The Telly Awards Judging Council and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Joanna Popper as a new judge for the 41st Annual Telly Awards.

Joanna Popper is a Hollywood and Silicon Valley media executive. She is HP’s Global Head of Virtual Reality for Location Based Entertainment. Prior to that, she was EVP of Media & Marketing at Singularity University and VP Marketing at NBCUniversal. Joanna was selected as “50 Women Can Change the World in Media and Entertainment,” “Top Women in Digital: Game Changers,” “101 Women Leading the VR Industry” and is on the Coalition for the Women in XR Fund.

Needless to say, Joanna is deeply entrenched in the Immersive & Mixed Reality communities!

What video/television piece inspired you recently?

When They See Us inspired me to think deeply about the justice system, racial discrimination, political activism and what we can all do to effect positive change.

What is the most exciting for you at this moment within your industry?

I am thrilled to be working in the VR industry as I see it as the future of computing as well as the future of media and entertainment. It brings together the inspirational storytelling with innovation, technology, immersion and interactivity. The industry is focused on building the future, bringing in new voices and representation and discovering new ways for technology and story to work together.

What is the one thing the Telly Awards community should know about you?

I love binge-watching.

What is a piece of work you are most proud to have worked on?

I worked on many influential TV works in Spanish TV including La Reina del Sur, El Senor de los Cielos, the World Cup bid and more. These works created a shift in the marketplace and a new type of modern programming with strong characters.