March 8 is International Women’s Day. It is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of discrimination, and work to close the gender gap. For this special day, we sat down to speak with a high-ranking member of our staff, Sana Gaziani. If you have attended industry events or workshops or panels lately, you have likely run into Sana. Keep reading to learn more about her and how she works with our Model community!
Tell us about your role at Pornhub. What is your position and what do you do?
I started working at Aylo (then MindGeek) during the pandemic in 2020 as a Customer Support Manager. I worked on improving communications and protocols for handling content removal requests which are still in use today. I got promoted to Director of Content Creator Relationships in September 2021. Over the years, I have taken on additional responsibilities such as event marketing, model recruitment, social media, and managing creator relationships. Today, I am the Director of Content Creators & Community which is a dream job. My team and I represent the voice of the creators and infuse that into our decision-making processes at Aylo. I get to attend industry events, participate in panels, and work directly with and for creators and sex workers.
What is your favorite part about attending industry events and participating in panels?
I have 3 favorite things! First, I love meeting new people and re-connecting with super smart and talented professionals who are experts in their fields. Building these relationships can unlock doors for potential collabs and future opportunities. Next, there’s the part where Alex Kekesi (Head of Community and Brand) and I host workshops together and get to listen and learn directly from creators. This includes receiving both critical and positive feedback which we loop back to different teams to help make more informed decisions. And finally, I always carve out time to follow all the new people I met on social media and stay connected. I love getting to know people better through their stories and posts, what they do for fun and most importantly, who has a cute pet!
You recently did an interview with XBIZ where you talked about “community over competition” – can you tell us how this philosophy helps inform your position of Director of Content and Community?
I first heard Ricky Johnson say this and I repeat it often! To me, it means working with creators and other businesses to help everyone succeed both on and off our platform. I see a lot of platforms that don’t allow third party links or competing products on their site, which limits a creator’s ability to market themselves and build their fan following. We allow it on our site because we see Pornhub as part of an ecosystem where studios and creators get discovered. With this in mind, we try to work with Models and like-minded business partners who see the value in sharing resources, expertise, and best practices to diversify everyone’s revenue streams.
The 2024 theme for International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion,” can you tell us what that means to you?
Strong female presence and empowerment that starts with a solid foundation. For me, it’s very important to hire, retain, and promote women from various backgrounds and marginalized groups to build a diverse team. It also means challenging gender stereotypes and breaking down barriers that previously hindered women from advancing in their career or even having a career of their own.
When I think about content creators, inspiring inclusion means showcasing and celebrating women (including Trans women) of all shapes, sizes, sexual preferences, and ethnicities… PERIOD!
What is a good way for women to support one another?
Invite other women to participate in discussions, listen to and ask them to share their knowledge, opinion, or ideas to help make better informed decisions as a group.
Who are 3 women who have inspired you?
My mom, Rihanna, and Asa Akira.
Congrats on winning the XBIZ Exec Award for Brand Ambassador of the year! Did you know you were going to win or was it a complete surprise?
Thank you so much! It was a total surprise. I wish I wrote a proper thank you speech to acknowledge my boss, Alex Kekesi, and my entire team who work so hard, lift me up and get things done!
Tell us about your career goals; do you have any projects you would like to accomplish in the next year?
Right now, we are so focused on the upcoming 6th Annual Pornhub Awards! I just want everyone to have a fantastic time and feel recognized for their achievements. It is going to be a fun night filled with celebrations. After that, we have plans to enhance our Model dashboard with more insights and data to help creators inform their content strategies.
Where will you be next? Will you be attending any industry events or panels in 2024?
I will be at the Pornhub Awards in a couple of weeks. Then Alex and I will be hosting another creator-focused workshop together at XBIZ Miami. We are also sponsors at the upcoming Grabbys Europe, so you can catch me and Freedom (the Product Marketing Manager at Pornhub) in Spain this April.
How do you practice self-care and unwind after a productive week?
I spend quality time with my husband and our two cats. We all cozy up and watch Drag Race together. I also practice hot yoga, ski in the winters and hike in the summers. When I get the motivation, I also enjoy baking while listening to all genres of 90s music.
If you are interested in what Sana and her team are working on, you can start by joining our Model Program and becoming a content creator! Learn more about it here.
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