ɫߣߣ�ۺϵ���

After graduating from OHIO with a degree in music production and recording industry and a social media certificate, Nelson Cruz, BSC ’17, is now the digital marketing director at the  in Washington, D.C. And in October, he was named one of , which recognizes young adults who are “making significant strides to uplift their communities and create a lasting impact.” Cruz drew Hispanic Executive’s attention for his digital advocacy in the gaming industry and for “shaping strategies that highlight how gaming drives innovation, builds community and creates positive social impact.”

OHIO Today News caught up with Cruz, who is from Washington, D.C., to discuss his professional trajectory and how an OHIO education helped him set the foundation for success. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What has your career journey looked like?

When it was time for me to go off to school, it was difficult for me to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but I knew I had this foundation of, “I like telling stories. I like being creative.” When I was at OU, freshman year, Professor Karen Riggs, who retired, had just started a social media certificate program. She said, “Hey, Nelson, I think you’d be great for this. You should look into it.” That was the last puzzle piece that propelled my career in this direction.

After I graduated from OU, I came back to D.C. I worked for the , a leadership program that aims to develop the next generation of Latino leaders. From there, I pivoted over to the , where I did digital communication. At the same time, I was pursuing my master’s in digital communications from . I’ve been here at the Entertainment Software Association for almost two years in this role as the digital marketing director.

What does a day in your life look like?

It looks different every day. Generally, I start my day with a good cup of coffee. When I’m not in meetings, I’m focused on executing our digital strategy and making sure everything across our digital channels is running smoothly. That can look like building content calendars, drafting reports, planning and executing paid and organic campaigns, collaborating with internal teams to support their digital communication needs, and more.

For somebody like me, somebody who considers himself a creative first, I need a dynamic workspace where every day changes. I appreciate that it kind of keeps me on my toes.

How did OHIO prepare you for your career?

I had many great teachers at OU who had so much knowledge of the communications space. They had good foresight as to where the industry was heading. When Karen Riggs approached me about the social media program, I didn’t realize how pivotal it would be to my career. I also had professors like Josh Antonuccio on the audio production side, who prepared me to learn more about music and audio production than the average person. That allowed me to diversify my skillset, which has been incredibly rewarding.

Building on my background as a visual artist, OU helped me develop the technical skills that have shaped me into a more effective and strategic communicator. From audio production and video editing to photography and writing for different audiences, each skill has strengthened my ability to tell compelling stories across platforms.

What motivates you?

I like showing up. Knowing that what I'm doing is causing change in a positive way makes it all worth it.

How does the video game industry do that?

We’re seeing that games bring people together in very positive ways. They allow us to make connections. They allow us to feel less anxious. They allow us to feel less lonely. In my mind, that's a positive change that we're seeing.

How did it feel to be named one of Hispanic Executive’s 30 Under 30 honorees this year?

It was a humbling accomplishment. I’ve never really done things for the recognition. I enjoy making my worlds collide and working on things I care about. I would say that this accomplishment solidifies a lot of the things that I’ve contributed to the various organizations that I've worked at.

What would be your biggest advice to a student wanting to work in the video game industry?

It’s important to get as much practice as possible. Expose yourself to the things that you want to learn more about early on. Look for those internship opportunities that allow you to practice. Reach out to people who are in the positions that you want to be in, and really lean in on your professors, because a lot of them have the connections or knowledge that allow you to get closer to your goals.