Maleena Pone is an industry leading creative executive producer, director and storyteller, working at the intersection of broadcast, digital and social media.
She operates as a multi-faceted creative leader and narrative architect, building work that moves fluidly between established institutions and emerging platforms, while maintaining a clear throughline of distinctive authorship, emotional truth and cultural relevance.
With over 18 years’ experience across news, film, television, digital, marketing and advertising, Maleena has originated and delivered projects for platforms including Channel 4, BBC, Sky, LADbible, YouTube and MTV. She has also led multi-format branded doc campaigns for global brands such as Nike, IKEA, Spotify, Smirnoff and Tesco, working both in-house and in collaboration with award-winning agencies and world-class production companies.
She has built and led international creative teams, secured stakeholders and funding, and overseen large-scale production processes, delivering award-winning films, campaigns and commercial work that have reached audiences in the hundreds of millions worldwide.
Her work is defined by a rare ability to navigate both creative and strategic terrains, translating complex ideas, insights, lived experience and cultural nuance into stories & creative work that resonate at scale. Whether leading integrated marketing campaigns or directing intimate documentary work, she brings a consistent level of craft, clarity and care to everything she makes.
Increasingly, her practice has evolved beyond individual projects into building narrative ecosystems that convert passive audiences into engaged communities, and visibility into meaningful, long-term impact.
Alongside her creative work, Maleena contributes to the wider evolution of the industry, regularly speaking and advocating for more inclusive, culturally intelligent and human-centred approaches to storytelling in an increasingly fast-moving AI-driven content landscape.
My Approach
I see storytelling as more than a creative output. It is a tool for shaping culture, building trust and creating lasting connection. In a landscape saturated with content, what cuts through is not volume, but meaning. Not performance, but universal truth. My work is grounded in the belief that how stories are made matters as much as the stories themselves.
Narrative, Not Content
I build narrative ecosystems rather than isolated pieces of content. This means thinking beyond a single film or campaign and considering how a story lives across platforms, audiences and time. From broadcast to social, from conversation to community, the work is designed to resonate, expand and endure.
Cultural Intelligence
My work is informed by a deep knowledge of cultural trends, audience behaviour, platform agnostics and sensitivity to context. I approach storytelling with care and precision, particularly when working with diverse voices or sensitive subject matter, ensuring stories are held with integrity rather than simplified for consumption.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Across both documentary and commercial work, I integrate trauma-informed methodologies into the production process. This means creating environments of safety, consent and trust, where contributors are not just subjects, but participants with agency. It also shapes how stories are edited, framed and shared with the world.
Authorship & Human Truths
Whether working with brands, broadcasters or individuals, I centre authored storytelling. I’m interested in the tension between the personal and the universal, and in creating space for stories that feel honest, nuanced and grounded. This is where connection happens, and where audiences shift from passive viewers to active participants.