The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) recently presented the inaugural Young Professional Achievement Award to alum Kendall Ostrow (‘07), acknowledging her singular career as a pioneer in digital influence, audience engagement, and the creator economy.
Kendall’s work has become pivotal to the way talent, executives, and brands build meaningful relationships with audiences. In a career encompassing influential positions at movie studios, agencies and media companies, Kendall now leads the Top Creators and Public Figures teams at YouTube, partnering with the platform’s most influential voices to help them leverage YouTube’s capabilities and build deeply engaged global audiences.
“I’m endlessly grateful to the School of Theatre, Film & Television for walking with me through every season—from undergrad to alum, and now, as an honoree,” said Kendall. “From the professors who pushed me to grow to the leadership across TFTV, I’ve felt supported every step of the way. This community helped shape who I am. To be recognized by it now is an honor I’ll carry with so much pride. Forever and always, I am a Wildcat.”
TFTV was thrilled to welcome Kendall back to campus late last semester to receive the award, and to lead an interactive workshop. During the workshop, she guided acting and musical theatre students through a process of uncovering what makes them memorable – not through self-promotion, but through intentional clarity. Students left with a deeper understanding of their voice, values, and creative identity, and how to express all three in ways that open doors, build trust, and shape lasting careers.
Kendall reflected on her return to campus. “Being back in the TFTV classroom stirred something deep. It brought me back to my senior year—that mix of ambition, uncertainty, and wide-open possibility. During our workshop, the students asked sharp questions, shared honestly, and reminded me why I love this work and how foundational UofA has been to the path I’ve built. They reminded me how important it is to speak our boldest dreams out loud, even when they feel too big or far away. That is how they begin to take shape.”
“Meeting and chatting with Kendall Ostrow was an incredibly insightful experience,” said workshop participant Holden Jones (BFA Musical Theatre ‘25). “I really enjoyed hearing her speak about her career path and the many factors that go into building an online presence that truly reflects your personal brand. She offered thoughtful guidance and brought up several points I hadn’t considered before, some of which have already inspired me to rethink and refine my own digital footprint. I also loved hearing about her clientele, and it was eye-opening to see how crucial an intentional online presence can be in gaining traction and establishing yourself in this industry.”
After graduating from the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television, Kendall began her career at Warner Bros./Telepictures, where she led the development and execution of what became an early “best-in-class” digital strategy for Ellen DeGeneres. She pioneered new models for talent and audience engagement before the “creator economy” was even a phrase. She continued this work at ID PR, helping many of the firm’s clients navigate the emerging social media landscape and use new tools to build their audiences.
At UTA, she built and led the agency’s first Digital Strategy division, and later co-founded UTA IQ, transforming how the entertainment industry used social media and data to unlock growth for traditional and digital media clients, including actors, musicians, creators, and authors.
Most recently, she led Business Development at Candle Media, working across portfolio companies including Moonbug, Hello Sunshine, and ATTN:. There, she created meaningful partnerships and unlocked new revenue streams through strategic collaborations with platforms such as Google, TikTok, and Amazon.
Known for blending bold ideas with sharp execution, Kendall has been recognized not just for what she’s built, but how she’s built it, with industry honors including Forbes’ 30 Under 30, AdAge’s 40 Under 40, Billboard’s Digital Power Players, and Variety’s Hollywood’s New Leaders. She is also a six-time Daytime Emmy nominee, with wins for “Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment” and nominations for “New Approaches.”
Kendall’s work sits at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and talent, shaping how YouTube supports the next generation of creators as lasting media brands.