Welcome! Let me introduce myself.
I am Yulia Poltorak - International Business Development and Content Distribution Professional. Here is what I offer:
- International business development
- Content distribution (traditional and streaming)
- International negotiations
- Go-To-Market strategy
- P&L management
- Identifying and bringing talent
- Team building and performance management
- Leadership
I hold a Ph.D. in Sociology (University of Pennsylvania) and an MBA (MIT Sloan School of Management).
My Professional Journey
Strategy Consulting
The Walt Disney Company Russia and The Walt Disney Studios Global Content Licensing
International Content Distribution
Global Deals for Paramount Plus and Pluto TV
Clients
My observations About the Industry
Local vs Global
What's in Your DNA
What's in Your DNA
Being intentional about international expansion is key. It may be a long haul, yet the one which will bring results if done right.
- Bringing a product to a new market is like transplanting a plant into foreign soil. It needs nurturing.
- The key factor in getting this balance right is the management.
- International professionals play the role of both an interpreter and an advocate.
What's in Your DNA
What's in Your DNA
What's in Your DNA
Every company has it's own DNA - the roots of it's business, the strength, the key competitive advantage, the founding history, it's RAISON D'ÊTRET.
- Stay within your strength
- In 2025, entertainment industry is rediscovering its roots. Content companies will refocus on creating compelling new stories emerging from the creator economy, while distribution companies concentrate on innovating the ways content reaches consumers. .
The Windowing of It All
The Windowing of It All
The Windowing of It All
Content distribution professionals are returning to sophisticated windowing approaches
- Distribution role is to integrate evolving distribution methods into optimal monetization strategies for content creators.
- The complexity increases when factoring in international markets, making it a multi-dimensional chess game.
- While DTC remains a powerful channel, it is just one among many, similar to a flagship store in retail. It’s valuable to have, but not the entire strategy.
- Will growth of creator economy content availability will surge. It will require strategic distribution, with smart windowing playing a central role.
Partnerships
The Windowing of It All
The Windowing of It All
Deal-making with partners is now more multi-faceted than ever. And crafting deals that provider fair value exchange and future-proved is both the art and science of content distribution. And this is more vital in international markets than in domestic.
Why?
- Consumers tend to trust local platforms, which often bundle services into attractive triple-play offers and provide familiar billing.
- As Kirby Grines aptly points out, most international subscribers come either from the wholesale side (bundled with MVPD/IPTV services) or through third-party platforms like Roku and Fire TV. Few consumers sign up directly with DTC services, and those who do often cost a lot in acquisition dollars.
My Story in 3 Chapters
The Beginning: Sociology
Since I was 15, growing up in Russia, I have been captivated by sociology and its core questions:
- Why do some societies undergo revolutions while others evolve peacefully?
- What defines "culture," and how does it form and change over time?
- Does culture shape individuals, or can individuals reshape culture?
This passion for sociology and my move to the US in 1990 led me to the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology.
I ultimately decided to leave academic world, but continued to teach at the London School Of Economics' branch in Moscow's Higher School of Economics for 4 years, combining it with my work in consulting.
The Foundation: Consulting
The changes sweeping through Russia in the late 1990s were too compelling to ignore.
Back in Russia, with US education under my belt, I was conducting research for the Wharton School. And I received an unexpected offer from Price Waterhouse to join its management consulting group.
Over the next six years, I worked in strategy consulting across oil & gas, banking, state enterprises, and ultimately, a media company. I had 1 project in media and entertainment and it was a love from the first sight. From that point on, there was no turning back.
Present: Media and Entertainment
Media and entertainment have been my passion for two main reasons:
- I believe in the power of storytelling and
- I thrive on the dynamic between creativity and business.
My competency was forged at 3 great companies (Disney, Roku and Paramount, each giving me a different angle for content distribution.
Disney:
- I started out in Russia and then joined the team in Burbank, which became my home for the next eight years. I worked on Disney, Marvel, and Lucasfilm titles. I learned how nuanced the creative side can be. It was an environment rich in expertise, remarkable professionalism, camaraderie, and a shared love for content and brand.
- Roku: a fast-paced, engineering-driven company with a culture of logic and empowerment. My team laid the foundation for Roku's international platform business. The team I assembled consisted of top professionals in content distribution and also genuine team players. I loved working and learning from each one of them.
- Paramount: I joined Paramount Global (Streaming division), and although I quickly realized it wasn't the right fit for me, I still valued the experience of working with talented teams and securing strong terms for Paramount Plus and Pluto TV.
About me:
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When not travelling (which I enjoy very much), I have three passions in my day-to-day life:
- Films and theater. I am in awe of both forms, specifically of the miracle it takes to create collective works of art. NYC is the right place for experiencing all of it.
- Cooking - I love making new recipes and inviting my wonderful 24 yo son and my friends to taste them (they don't always love it!)
- Schnauzers. I have been a proud mom to 4 of them over the years and currently to Elvis who is 2.5 years ago.