Creative Executive  ·  Los Angeles, CA

AINURKAYUPOVA

Development and Production Executive
YouTube Originals  ·  VICE/Viceland  ·  Film and TV

Two decades shepherding stories that move audiences and move the needle from Silicon Valley streaming to Hollywood's most iconic productions.

20+
Years in
Entertainment
80+
Projects
Shepherded
6yr
Google /
YouTube
View My Work Let's Connect
Ainur Kayupova, Creative Executive
●  Ex Google/YouTube Originals
MFA Screenwriting · CSUN
Google Leadership Certified
Scroll to explore
Profile

The Executive

Ainur on set at YouTube Originals production
Ainur at the Emmy Awards
Ainur at YouTube headquarters

A creative executive who speaks both Hollywood and Silicon Valley fluently.

Ainur Kayupova began her career in the editing suites and post-production floors of independent production building, frame by frame, an unshakeable command of how stories are actually made. That technical mastery became the foundation of a creative philosophy: great storytelling is not an accident of inspiration, but the result of rigorous architecture.

Nearly six years at Google's YouTube Originals gave her something rare an executive's fluency in platform data alongside a creator's devotion to narrative. She shepherded Cobra Kai, Escape the Night, Best Shot, Dallas and Robo, and dozens more, learning to read audience intelligence not as a constraint, but as a compass pointing toward underserved voices and untapped cultural IP.

Today Ainur operates as a strategic creative partner for companies navigating the most generative moment in content history. She brings an MFA storyteller's sensitivity, a post-production supervisor's command of execution, and a development executive's instinct for the one pitch in a hundred that will actually endure.

Slate DevelopmentContent StrategyDEI StorytellingProduction ManagementIP AcquisitionTalent RelationsLocalizationUnscriptedScripted DramaAnimationDocumentaryReality TV
Experience

Career Timeline

2023 to Present
Self-Employed · LA
Development and Production Consultant

Strategic creative consulting for media, entertainment, and production clients across workflow design, content strategy, and execution. Leading end-to-end project coordination for complex creative initiatives aligning cross-disciplinary stakeholders across creative, operations, marketing, and production. Currently working with studios, streamers, and independent production companies on a select basis.

ConsultingContent StrategyWorkflow DesignExecutive Briefing
2020 to 2023
Google · YouTube Originals
Development Executive

Drove content strategy and slate development in direct collaboration with the SVP and Head of Scripted/Unscripted Content. Championed distinctive voices, DEI-forward storytelling, and high-conversion IP across film/TV markets, global festivals, and emerging creative communities. Managed projects from pitch through marketing delivery, orchestrating alignment across production, legal, marketing, and creative studio teams.

GreenlightIP DevelopmentTalent RelationsGlobal StrategyDEI
2017 to 2020
Google · YouTube Originals
Post Production Manager

Architected and managed the post-production pipeline for a simultaneous slate of 20+ originals, aligning each with platform roadmap and business objectives. Built and mentored high-performing post teams editors, sound engineers, and post professionals. Developed custom workflows that improved delivery quality and efficiency platform-wide. Collaborated with Product and Engineering on technology implementations that simplified operations across the entire Originals division.

Pipeline ArchitectureTeam LeadershipBudget OversightTech Integration
Jun to Oct 2017
Bunim-Murray Productions
Story Producer · Project Runway

Developed character arcs and narrative structure for this Emmy-winning reality competition. Edited story sequences in Avid Media Composer crafting multiple versions of key dramatic moments to engineer episodic cohesion, emotional resonance, and audience retention across a full competitive season on Lifetime TV.

UnscriptedReality TVStory ArchitectureAvid
2014 to 2017
VICE Media · VICELAND
Producer, Development and Post Supervisor

Managed creative development and post-production across multiple simultaneous VICELAND originals. Led teams of writers, editors, and designers; evaluated new show concepts for the nascent cable network; provided editorial notes on outlines, scripts, cuts, and promotional content. Shows include Gaycation, F*** That's Delicious, Vice Does America, Vice World of Sports, Huang's World, Bong Appétit, Party Legends, and Flophouse.

ProducingDevelopmentPost SupervisionCable TVBudget Management
2004 to 2014
Various · Los Angeles
Freelance Associate Producer

A decade building foundational expertise across film, television, and new media production throughout Los Angeles. Developed deep proficiency in post-production workflows, editorial storytelling, and the full content development lifecycle the ground-level experience that informs every executive decision today.

Los AngelesFilm and TVPost ProductionNew Media
Selected Projects

The Work

80+ productions shepherded across platforms, formats, and genres. Drag each row to explore.

Platform-Defining Originals YouTube Originals
Cobra Kai
Development Coordinator
Cobra Kai
YouTube Originals Scripted Drama 2018
The platform's most-watched original. Shepherded from greenlight through delivery now a global Netflix phenomenon reaching 50M+ households.
Escape the Night
Dev Executive
Escape the Night S3 and S4
YouTube Originals Unscripted 2018 to 19
Horror-competition hybrid starring Joey Graceffa. Managed two full seasons through production and delivery.
Mind Field
Post Production Manager
Mind Field Season 2
YouTube Originals Documentary 2018
Michael Stevens' acclaimed psychological science series. Managed the complex post pipeline for Vsauce's most ambitious season.
Good Mythical Morning
Dev Executive
Good Mythical Morning
YouTube Originals Format 2017 to 18
Elevated Rhett and Link's flagship show to Originals slate a masterclass in translating creator format into premium content.
Kevin Hart What The Fit
Dev Executive
Kevin Hart: What The Fit?!
YouTube Originals Comedy 2018
Star-driven comedy series with Kevin Hart training with celebrity guests. High-profile commission managed through full delivery.
Best Cover Ever
Dev Executive
Best Cover Ever
YouTube Originals Music 2018
Music competition featuring Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Keith Urban and Ludacris. Managed from commission through delivery.
ThreadBanger Do or DIY
Post Production Manager
ThreadBanger: Do or DIY
YouTube Originals Lifestyle 2017 to 18
Creator-native DIY series for the ThreadBanger channel. Managed post pipeline for this digital-first production.
Ultimate Expedition
Dev Executive
Ultimate Expedition
YouTube Originals Adventure 2018
Global adventure series pushing explorers to their limits across extreme terrain and hostile environments. Attitude Over Altitude.
YouTube Kids and Family Originals $100M Initiative · 2020 to 2022
Pinkfong WonderStar
Dev Executive
Pinkfong WonderStar
YouTube Originals Animation 2020
First Korean animated series for YouTube Originals. 13 episodes following Pinkfong and Hogi solving problems in Wonderville. Dubbed in 5 languages reaching 16M+ views globally.
The Guava Juice Show
Dev Executive
The Guava Juice Show
YouTube Originals Kids 2020
Creator-native animated kids series with YouTube star Roi Fabito. Launched on the YouTube Kids app reaching 618K views at premiere.
Supa Strikas Rookie Season
Dev Executive
Supa Strikas: Rookie Season
YouTube Originals Animation 2020
Animated soccer series in partnership with Moonbug Entertainment. 5 binge episodes, 8.2M total views, 1.4M avg per episode.
Super Sema
Dev Executive
Super Sema
YouTube Originals Animation 2021
Africa's first kid superhero animated series. NAACP Image Award-nominated, starring Lupita Nyong'o. STEAM-powered storytelling from Kenya-based Kukua. 1.6M views at launch.
Coyote Peterson Wild Field Trip
Dev Executive
Coyote Peterson's Wild Field Trip
YouTube Originals Educational 2020
Educational wildlife adventure with Brave Wilderness creator Coyote Peterson. 3.5M total views, 1.7M avg per episode.
Tab Time
Dev Executive
Tab Time
YouTube Originals Preschool 2020
Preschool series starring Tabitha Brown. 5 weekly episodes, 2.4M total views, 350K avg per episode on YouTube Kids.
Buster Saves Christmas
Dev Executive
Buster Saves Christmas
YouTube Originals Animation 2020
Festive animated holiday special by Moonbug Entertainment. 1.3M views, championing inclusive holiday storytelling for young audiences globally.
Onyx Family Dinner
Dev Executive
Onyx Family Dinner
YouTube Originals Family 2020
8-episode family series with creator family the Onyx Family. 2.4M total views, 295K avg per episode with authentic multicultural representation.
Kid Correspondents
Dev Executive
Kid Correspondents
YouTube Originals Live Action 2020
6-episode live-action kids news series giving young viewers agency and voice. 966K total views and 210K views across 13 bonus clips.
Get Curious
Dev Executive
Get Curious
YouTube Originals Educational 2020
Science and discovery series for young viewers developed as part of YouTube's $100M learning-forward kids slate initiative.
BookTube Jr
Dev Executive
BookTube Jr.
YouTube Originals Educational 2020
4-episode literacy series for kids. 496K views, 1.1M all-episodes total. Part of YouTube's commitment to learning-forward kids content.
Distinctive Voices and Global IP YouTube Originals
Best Shot
Dev Executive
Best Shot
YouTube Originals Documentary 2018
Emmy-nominated. From EPs LeBron James and Maverick Carter. ESPN's Jay Williams coaches a Newark high school basketball team through a season that changes lives.
Dallas and Robo
Dev Executive
Dallas and Robo
YouTube Originals Animation 2018
John Cena and Kat Dennings star in this adult animated series about female-led space truckers vs. cannibal biker gangs. Bold, genre-defying IP.
The Deported
Dev Executive
The Deported
YouTube Originals Documentary 2019
Documentary examining the human stories behind deportation. Beverly Hills Film Festival Official Selection. Starring Rosario Dawson.
Youth and Consequences
Dev Executive
Youth and Consequences
YouTube Originals Scripted 2018
High school dramedy with sharp wit and authentic characterization platform-native story told with cinematic ambition. Power is their strong suit.
Project Runway
Story Producer
Project Runway
Lifetime · Bunim-Murray Reality 2017
Developed character arcs and managed narrative flow for this Emmy-winning fashion competition hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn.
The VICE Era VICELAND · 2014 to 2017
Gaycation
Producer, Development
Gaycation
VICELAND Documentary 2016 to 17
Award-winning global LGBTQ+ documentary series hosted by Ellen Page and Ian Daniel. Produced and provided editorial notes on this culturally vital series.
F*CK That's Delicious
Producer, Development
F*CK That's Delicious
VICELAND Food and Travel 2016 to 17
Action Bronson's cult food and travel series. Produced this beloved VICELAND flagship balancing irreverent tone with genuine culinary depth.
Vice World of Sports
Producer, Dev
Vice World of Sports
VICELAND Sports Doc S1 and S2
Global sports documentary uncovering extraordinary athletic stories from underreported corners of the world. Two full seasons produced and developed.
Huang's World
Post Supervisor
Huang's World
VICELAND Food and Culture 2016
Eddie Huang's genre-defying series blending personal identity, culture, and cuisine. Supervised post-production for the full debut season.
Bong Appetit
Producer, Dev
Bong Appétit Cook Off
VICE Food 2016 to 17
Cannabis culinary competition series. A bold editorial voice that helped define the early VICELAND brand identity and audience.
Vice Does America
Producer, Dev
Vice Does America
VICELAND Documentary 2016 to 17
Cross-country documentary capturing the complex, unfiltered reality of American culture and subcultures. Managed production and development throughout.
Party Legends
Post Supervisor
Party Legends
VICELAND Comedy 2016
Animated/live action hybrid with celebrities narrating their wildest party stories. Post supervised the debut season on VICELAND.
Flophouse
Post Supervisor
Flophouse
VICELAND Comedy 2015
Stand-up comedy series set in an LA venue. Post supervised this early VICELAND original as the network was establishing its bold creative identity.
Behind the Scenes On the Ground
Cobra Kai team at YouTube Originals
Cobra Kai Launch Team
YouTube Originals Google HQ
The YouTube Originals team dressed up in Cobra Kai gear to celebrate the show's premiere day one of the most exciting launches in platform history.
Ainur at Google YouTube headquarters
Google · YouTube HQ
Playa Vista, CA YouTube Originals
At the iconic YouTube and Google office in Playa Vista home base for nearly six years building one of streaming's most ambitious original content platforms.
Ainur at YouTube Learning premiere
Premiere Night
YouTube Originals Could You Survive the Movies?
Attending the outdoor premiere event for a YouTube Learning Original the kind of moment that defines a career built around stories that matter.
Ainur at Streamy Awards red carpet
Streamy Awards
YouTube Industry Awards
On the red carpet at the YouTube Streamy Awards representing the intersection of digital and traditional entertainment at its finest.
Ainur at VICE Viceland office
VICE Media HQ
Venice, CA VICELAND
Outside VICE Media's Venice Beach headquarters three years producing some of cable television's most culturally daring and boundary-pushing originals.
Ainur at Project Runway set
Project Runway
Bunim-Murray Lifetime TV
On set at Project Runway at Bunim-Murray Productions serving as Story Producer on this Emmy-winning competition series during its Lifetime TV run.
Ainur at YouTube billboard
Guava Juice Show
YouTube Originals Billboard Campaign
Standing beneath a billboard for The Guava Juice Show one of the many YouTube Originals that went from pitch to outdoor advertising during her tenure.
What I Offer

Services and Expertise

Available for select consulting engagements with studios, streamers, networks, and independent creators.

Creative Development

From pitch to greenlight. Identifying high-conversion IP, developing slate strategy, script notes, and shepherding projects through the creative process with a focus on distinctive voices and authentic storytelling.

  • Slate planning and IP strategy
  • Script notes and story development
  • Talent identification and relations
  • Pitch preparation and positioning
  • DEI-forward content strategy
  • Festival and market coverage
Production Consulting

End-to-end production oversight and operational strategy. Designing workflows that eliminate bottlenecks, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring complex productions deliver on time, on budget, at the highest creative standard.

  • Workflow design and optimization
  • Budget tracking and forecasting
  • Cross-team stakeholder alignment
  • Vendor and partner management
  • Localization and lifecycle planning
  • Post-production oversight
Platform Strategy

Translating platform data into creative decisions. Leveraging deep expertise in streaming analytics, audience intelligence, and digital-first content strategy to build slates that perform in the modern media landscape.

  • Streaming platform positioning
  • Audience and analytics strategy
  • Digital-first content development
  • Creator partnership strategy
  • New market and global exploration
  • Technology and workflow integration
Industry Voices

What Colleagues Say

"

Ainur is a deeply experienced creative executive who has worked on a variety of creative projects across YouTube spanning many formats, and featuring storytelling from a diverse set of viewpoints. In addition to being a consummate and talented creative professional, she is one of the most genuine and kindest colleagues one could hope for.

Bryan Yee
SVP Head of Strategy / Corp Dev, Wonder Project
Ex-YouTube · Fox · Hulu · UBS Investment Bank
Managed Ainur directly · YouTube Originals

"Moving from a post-production role into creative development, she was immediately able to jump into a new function and is well versed across the production process. Her dedication and strong organizational and communication skills helped so many shows and projects run smoothly. It was an honor working with Ainur."

Daniel Haack
VP, Content Strategy and Business Dev Sony Music / The Orchard · Ex-YouTube Originals

"She's a superb wrangler of all things production and creative whilst proving to be greatly insightful and competent during the extensive process of content creation, from ideation targeting various audiences to delivery. Ainur would make an excellent addition to any team."

Craig Hunter
Senior Content Executive · Ex-Google/YouTube · Sony, Nickelodeon and Disney · Managed Ainur directly

"Ainur's production and creative delivery enables each project to run smoothly. Whenever I needed partnership, she always executed with a collaborative and creator-first mentality. She maintains a positive, can-do attitude and always seeks clarity when finalizing a project."

Michelle L.
Director, Corporate Development Blue Origin / Google / IBM · Hudson Executive Coach

"Ainur is a passionate, smart, hard working, creative individual who adds value to any project she is working on. A true professional with a warm heart."

Beth Flax
Production Manager · YouTube Originals
Credentials

Full Resume

Executive Profile

A creative executive with 20+ years across development, production, and post-production in the entertainment industry spanning streaming platforms, cable networks, and independent film and television. Demonstrated expertise in slate planning, content strategy, talent relations, and DEI-forward storytelling, with a rare command of both creative vision and operational execution honed at Google/YouTube Originals, VICE Media, and Bunim-Murray Productions. Currently consulting selectively with media companies at the intersection of platform intelligence and authentic storytelling.

Professional Experience
Development and Production Consultant
Independent · Self-Employed · Los Angeles, CA

Strategic creative consulting for media, entertainment, and production clients. Services span workflow architecture, content strategy, cross-functional production management, executive briefing preparation, budget oversight, and vendor relations.

2023 to Present
Development Executive
Google · YouTube Originals · Playa Vista, CA

Drove content strategy and slate development in direct collaboration with SVP and Head of Scripted/Unscripted Content. Championed distinctive voices, DEI-forward IP, and high-conversion talent. Managed projects from pitch through marketing delivery orchestrating alignment across production, legal, marketing, creative studio, and operations teams.

2020 to 2023
Post Production Manager
Google · YouTube Originals · Playa Vista, CA

Architected and managed the post-production pipeline for a simultaneous slate of 20+ originals. Built and mentored high-performing post teams. Developed custom workflows improving delivery quality and efficiency platform-wide. Collaborated with Product and Engineering on technology implementations that simplified operations across the Originals division.

2017 to 2020
Story Producer
Bunim-Murray Productions · Burbank, CA · Project Runway (Lifetime)

Developed narrative arcs and character stories for this Emmy-winning reality competition. Edited sequences in Avid Media Composer crafting multiple story versions to engineer episodic cohesion, emotional resonance, and audience retention.

Jun to Oct 2017
Producer, Development and Post Supervisor
VICE Media · VICELAND · Venice, CA

Managed creative development and post-production across multiple simultaneous VICELAND originals including Gaycation, F*** That's Delicious, Vice Does America, Vice World of Sports, Huang's World, Bong Appétit, Party Legends, and Flophouse. Led teams of writers, editors, and designers; evaluated new show concepts; provided notes across all stages of production.

2014 to 2017
Freelance Associate Producer
Various Productions · Los Angeles, CA

A decade building foundational expertise across film, television, and new media production throughout Los Angeles. Developed deep proficiency in post-production workflows, editorial storytelling, and the full content development lifecycle.

2004 to 2014

Education

MFA · Screenwriting
California State University, Northridge
2013 to 2015
BA · Cinema and Television Arts
Film and TV Production · CSUN
2012
Arts, Entertainment and Media
Los Angeles Valley College
2008 to 2010

Certifications

Leadership Training
Google
June 2020
Salesforce Certified
Salesforce
Certified

Core Skills

Content Strategy
Slate Development
Production Management
Script Notes
Creative Strategy
Team Leadership
DEI Storytelling
Platform Analytics

Software and Tools

SalesforceYouTube AnalyticsTableauSQLAvid Media ComposerPremiere ProAfter EffectsFinal Cut ProFrame.ioJiraMovie MagicPhotoshopGoogle SuiteMedia SiloAspera
Get In Touch
Let's Make
Something

Selectively available for development and production consulting. Based in Los Angeles, working globally.

✉  Email Ainur in  LinkedIn
LocationLos Angeles, CA
Emailcontact@ainurmedia.com
AvailabilitySelect Projects
ResponseWithin 48 Hours