Nusrat Durrani

About Nusrat Durrani

I build and lead teams that tap into the future of pop culture to create transformative, multiplatform content and branded entertainment for commercial and social impact. My global experience in culturally diverse markets keeps brands, talent, and artists at the forefront of conversations and movements driving systemic change. I build organizational cultures where imagination, diversity, equity, inclusion, representation, and collaboration are the standard.As General Manager & Senior Vice President, I launched and led MTV World—Viacom’s global content incubator and innovation engine—for 11 years. In partnership with more than 200 next-generation creatives in 45 countries, we created Viacom’s first global production infrastructure, powering the creation of new channels for Asian-Americans and iconoclastic content that super-served untapped audiences. We imported new trends in pop culture, like K-Pop, into the U.S. marketplace and created platforms for unheard voices worldwide, advancing the conversation around race, color, gender, and sexual identity.We collaborated with the White House on films about indigenous youth, and I was recognized by President Obama and the Smithsonian for catalyzing positive change with REBEL MUSIC—a docuseries about musicians fighting oppression that broke MTV’s all-time records for views, shares, and comments. The Asia Society has honored me for my contributions to Asian-American culture.As I advanced from a Manager through Director and Vice President roles at Viacom Media Networks, I earned the reputation as a trailblazing first-generation digital executive and joined the MTV digital team responsible for its early online successes, including the launches of MTV.com and VH1.com and partnerships with leading technology players. I led my teams in delivering a co-branded campaign strategy that became an industry standard and the first ecommerce platform for MTV, VH1, CMT, and Comedy Central brands.Recently, I directed and executive-produced five independent documentaries, including two feature-length projects. My latest film, AN AMERICAN PRAYER, is an interrogation of the American dream, shot during the pandemic. I am a strategic advisor to thecamp Positive Innovation Center in France, teaching social innovation and storytelling authenticity.

Experience

1. Founder & CEO

   Nusrat Durrani, Inc

   Jan 2017 — Present · New York, NY, US

   After 2 decades in leadership roles at Viacom, transitioned into strategic advisor and independent documentary filmmaker roles: AN AMERICAN PRAYER (2021): directed and executive-produced this feature film documentary about ordinary Americans in an extraordinary time, caught between love, duty, desire, and stereotype. The film is an homage to the American dream. Filmed safely during the global pandemic in Mexico, Russia, and the U.S. THE CONSEQUENCES OF APATHY (2019): directed and produced this short documentary; screened at PopTech. THIS LAND, OUR VOICES (2019): created series and executive-produced this feature-length omnibus of documentaries from small-town America. Screening at festivals now. STORIES FROM THE WORLD, STORIES FROM THE HEARTLAND (2019): created and executive-produced this short documentary; screened at the Microsoft Storytelling Summit. STORIES I TOLD MY MOTHER (2018): created and executive-produced this short documentary; screened at PopTech. thecamp Positive Innovation Center, Aiz-En-Provence, France: Strategic advisor to this center with a mission to foster a sustainable world by bringing together global companies and communities and developing future socioeconomic models. Created operating principles, programming and content strategy, brand platform, and communications policy. Advised on organizational structure, partnerships and media program.

Education

• University of Lucknow

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Marketing

• University of Lucknow

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Marketing

• La Martinere College

  High School

Skills

• Music Industry
• Advertising
• Online Advertising
• Online Marketing
• Content Development
• Television
• Producing
• Film
• Video Production
• Web Video
• Digital Strategy
• Digital Distribution
• Documentary Film Making
• Film Production
• Publicity
• Documentaries
• Social Media Marketing
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Advertising Sales
• Social Media
• Broadcast
• Future Trends
• Media & Entertainment
• Media Buying
• Branded Content
• Executive Producer
• Editorial Strategy
• Digital Production
• Pop Culture
• Digital Marketing
• Music Videos
• Marketing
• Content Strategy
• Marketing Strategy
• Sponsorship
• Media Planning
• Mobile Marketing
• Entertainment
• Strategic Partnerships