Packiaraj Kasi Rajan
1. Congratulations on your achievements in the NY Digital! Could you start by introducing yourself or your agency? Can you also share a bit about your journey into your current industry?
Thank you! I’m Packiaraj Kasi Rajan, Director of Mobile Technology at A+E Networks, where I lead engineering for our SVOD and TVE streaming platforms across mobile and connected-TV devices. My journey started as an iOS developer passionate about how people experience media on small screens. Over 15 years, I’ve grown from building individual apps to architecting large-scale streaming ecosystems that power brands like HISTORY Vault, Lifetime Movie Club, and Crime Central.
2. What inspired you to submit your work for this competition, and what does winning mean to you personally and professionally?
I entered the NY Digital Awards to benchmark our engineering innovation against the global digital community. Personally, the recognition validates years of dedication to elegant, scalable design; professionally, it reflects how engineering excellence directly supports creative storytelling and expands audience reach.
3. Can you share the story behind your success? What inspired its creation, and what do you feel it represents in today’s industry?
Our success came from a need to unify multiple brand apps under one streaming framework. The inspiration was efficiency — build once, deploy everywhere — while still preserving each brand’s identity. In today’s industry, it reflects how technology and creativity converge to deliver seamless user experiences.
4. What do you believe set your project apart in such a competitive field? Were there specific elements or strategies that made it shine?
We treated architecture as a product in its own right. Instead of maintaining isolated codebases, we built a modular monorepo that allowed shared innovations across brands. Our focus on scalability, server-side ad insertion, and cross-platform analytics integration made the system both robust and adaptable — qualities that resonated with the judges.
5. Every project has its challenges. Can you share a significant obstacle you faced during this process and how you overcame it?
The toughest challenge was aligning diverse teams — product, design, backend, and QA — across multiple time zones. I established a unified delivery pipeline and a clear ownership model, ensuring transparency and accountability at every stage. Collaboration turned those obstacles into opportunities for process excellence.
6. Winning an award of this caliber often brings recognition. What do you hope this achievement will mean for your career, your team, or your agency in the long run? Have you already noticed any changes or opportunities arising from this recognition?
This award amplifies the visibility of our engineering team within the media-tech ecosystem. It strengthens A+E’s position as a technology-driven storyteller and encourages future collaborations. For me, it’s a reminder to keep mentoring emerging engineers and to continue bridging business goals with technical innovation.
7. What has the reaction been from clients, audiences, or stakeholders about your winning entry? Any feedback or memorable moments that stand out?
The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Our leadership highlighted it as proof of A+E’s innovation culture, and peers from partner organizations reached out for knowledge-sharing sessions. The best moment was seeing our engineers feel genuinely proud — their hard work recognized on a global platform.
8. For those aspiring to achieve similar success, what advice would you offer to help them not only thrive in their industries but also craft compelling, award-worthy entries? Are there specific practices, mindsets, or strategies you believe are key?
Focus on clarity and impact. Awards recognize not only what you build but why it matters. Tell a story of measurable improvement—faster performance, better engagement, or smarter design. And always document your process; transparency makes your work both credible and inspiring.
9. The creative industry is constantly evolving. How do you view these changes, and where do you hope to position yourself in the future?
The line between content and technology continues to blur. I see the future driven by AI-assisted creativity and data-driven personalization. My goal is to stay at that intersection—helping media companies deliver intelligent, inclusive, and emotionally resonant digital experiences.
10. Entering awards can be daunting for many, especially those just starting out. What would you say to individuals who have limited experience, or are hesitant to showcase their work in competitions? How can they build confidence and see the value in participating?
Every project teaches something worth sharing. Don’t wait for perfection; focus on authenticity. Submitting your work invites feedback and connection—it’s not just competition, it’s growth. Confidence comes from purpose, not polish.
11. Creativity thrives on community. What message would you like to share with fellow creatives, marketers, and advertising professionals?
Celebrate collaboration. The best ideas emerge when technology and creativity meet empathy. Support each other’s experiments; innovation accelerates when we exchange knowledge instead of guarding it.
12. Winning is a team effort in many cases. Is there someone or a group of people you’d like to dedicate this achievement to, and why?
I dedicate this recognition to everyone who has collaborated with me throughout my professional journey. Every milestone is the result of shared effort, trust, and mutual inspiration. I’m grateful to all the talented individuals who have contributed their creativity, dedication, and teamwork to turning complex ideas into successful outcomes.
13. If you could describe your award-winning entry in one sentence, what would it be and why?
A unified architecture that transformed complexity into simplicity—bridging multiple brands through one powerful streaming ecosystem.
14. Finally, what’s next for you? Any exciting projects or upcoming goals that you’d like to share with us and the audience?
Next, I’m focusing on expanding our AI-driven personalization layer and real-time analytics framework across platforms. Beyond that, I plan to contribute to the community through mentorship programs and industry talks, continuing to inspire the next generation of engineers.
