Barry Pousman

Barry Pousman is an Emmy-nominated new media creator and researcher interested in driving real-world change through digital storytelling and community building. As the creator of countless viral series, advertisements, and digital experiences, Barry has received multiple industry awards for innovative storytelling, social impact products, and content marketing campaigns.

Barry led the United Nations’ digital engagement program for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Secretary General’s office and served as the Director of Digital Programming at Discovery Communications. As a freelance creative, he directed and produced work for Google, YouTube, Meta, Amazon, the World Bank, and others. His work reaches millions monthly and continues to drive measurable impact.

Barry’s academic work includes developing and teaching, “Storytelling for Social Justice” at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, serving as a Practitioner in Residence at the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocities Prevention at S.U.N.Y. Binghamton, and a frequent guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins, Emerson College, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Duke University.

At the iDeas Lab, Barry focuses on developing creative strategies and assets to increase audience engagement and expand the Lab’s influence.