Join us for a conversation with the co-founders of SixTwentySix, the LA-based creative studio behind memorable work for brands like Dunkin’ and artists across the music industry like Megan Thee Stallion. We’ll explore how they built their business, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they balance their creative vision with client needs in today’s rapidly changing landscape. Learn how their modern creative studio is blowing expectations out of the water and changing the game!
“Throughlines” is a virtual conversation series that taps into the Telly’s unique position as a connector across industry verticals to explore trending topics, synthesize insight, and reflect back learning that our whole community has a stake in. Topics have included Fandoms in Sports & Fashion, The New Economy of Video, Innovative News Formats, and AI’s Impact on Archives.
Jake Krask is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of SixTwentySix, a Los Angeles-based creative studio producing culturally resonant work “for today’s generation, by today’s generation.” A fifth-generation Angeleno with deep entertainment roots, Jake combines creative intuition with sharp business acumen to redefine modern content creation.
After studying entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University, Jake partnered with longtime collaborator Austin Barbera to launch SixTwentySix, filling a market gap for high-impact, youth-driven storytelling. Under his leadership, the studio has produced award-winning campaigns and music videos for Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X, and global brands including Coca-Cola, Samsung, Adidas, Dropbox, and Turo.
Jake oversees strategy, operations, and growth, ensuring a creative environment where directors and talent thrive. Since its founding, SixTwentySix has grown into a multi-million-dollar enterprise recognized by Clio, Webby, One Show, MTV VMA, and Telly Awards, competing alongside industry heavyweights while staying fiercely independent.
With an eye toward film and television ventures, Jake continues to expand SixTwentySix’s vision of crafting stories that inspire, innovate, and authentically connect with audiences around the world.
Austin Barbera is the co-founder and executive producer of SixTwentySix, an LA-based creative studio he established in 2017 at age 20. Named after his birthday, SixTwentySix has rapidly become an industry leader in commercial and music video production under Austin's visionary leadership.
Austin's entertainment career began at 16 when he stumbled onto a music video set, igniting his passion for production. Foregoing traditional education, he immersed himself in the industry, ascending from PA to line producer by 19. This hands-on experience, coupled with mentorship from industry veterans, shaped his innovative approach to production.
At 28, Austin Barbera continues to push the boundaries of creative production, cementing SixTwentySix's position as an industry trendsetter and establishing himself as a young entrepreneur to watch in the entertainment world.
Amanda Needham is the Managing Director of the Telly Awards, a 47-year-old global award program honoring excellence in video and TV across all screens. She has directed international documentaries for Al Jazeera, produced commercial campaigns for Philips, and advised on feature films headed to Sundance. A Fulbright scholar who has lectured internationally on the political roots of remix video, she holds a B.A. in History from Yale and an M.S. in Multimedia Journalism from the U. of Oregon.
The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created for television and across video, across all screens. Receiving over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners hail from the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on the behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company, or self-directed as a creative endeavor.
Enter by the Early Entry Deadline on Dec 12th, 2025 at tellyawards.com