Nicholas Maggio

Content Innovation & Emerging Technology Leader

I work at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling — 12+ years turning emerging technologies like AI and immersive media into new kinds of content experiences at Disney, Unity, and PlayStation.

Nicholas Maggio

About Me

I'm an entertainment technology leader with over 12 years of experience where content meets emerging technology. I believe this moment — AI, real-time engines, connected platforms — is a rare opening to invent new kinds of stories, and my work is about turning that opening into experiences audiences actually get to watch and play with.

Currently a Sr. Manager of Emerging Technology (AI & Immersive) at The Walt Disney Company, I lead strategy and execution for AI and immersive content initiatives across film, streaming, and immersive organizations — partnering directly with Studio Presidents and Disney+ leadership to take new content formats from first prototype to delivery.

12+ Years Experience
8 Team Leadership
3 Advanced Degrees
Nicholas Maggio

Nicholas Maggio

Sr. Manager, Emerging Technology

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Education: UCLA MBA, RIT MS
Focus: AI, Immersive & Content Innovation

Professional Experience

The Walt Disney Company

Sr. Manager, Emerging Technology — AI & Immersive 2021 — Present
  • Lead strategic planning and execution for emerging technology initiatives across film, streaming, and immersive content organizations
  • Guide new content experiences from first prototype to broad rollout — spanning AI, Apple Vision Pro, and cloud-based 3D capture (photogrammetry & Gaussian splatting)
  • Manage a blended team of internal direct reports plus an extended Deloitte consulting team
  • Partner directly with Studio Presidents, Producers, and Disney+ leadership on technology investments and organizational readiness
  • Develop business cases and ROI frameworks, presenting decision-ready recommendations to VP and C-suite stakeholders

Unity Technologies

Lead Solutions Engineer — AR/VR & Templates 2018 — 2021
  • Managed strategic partnerships for major enterprise clients including Netflix, Apple, and Niantic
  • Spearheaded customer engagement through customized prototypes and technical demonstrations
  • Collaborated with product teams to prioritize feature enhancements based on client feedback
  • Represented Unity in high-stakes meetings and industry events globally
  • Led cross-functional initiatives for strategic market positioning of AR/VR products

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sr. Software Engineer 2017 — 2018
  • Engineered advanced photogrammetry capture rigs for PlayStation hardware requirements
  • Facilitated cross-team collaboration with PS5 development team for seamless integration

Lytro

Optical Engineer & Software Developer 2015 — 2017
  • Developed pioneering optical components and software tools for cinematic imaging technologies
  • Managed complex partnerships with industry leaders Zeiss and Panavision for custom hardware solutions

Areas of Expertise

🤖

AI & Machine Learning

AI-assisted content pipelines and strategic adoption of machine learning across creative organizations

🥽

Immersive Technologies

AR/VR development, Apple Vision Pro optimization, and immersive content creation

☁️

Cloud Solutions

Cloud-based services, photogrammetry, and scalable infrastructure development

🎮

Interactive Entertainment

Platform-native, interactive experiences that blend storytelling, gaming, and audience participation

🎬

Content Innovation

Incubating new content formats from concept through launch across film, streaming, and immersive media

💻

Programming

Expert in C#, C++, Python with focus on computer vision and image processing

Education

UCLA Anderson School of Management

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Global Management and Finance 2023 — 2025

Rochester Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Imaging Science Image Processing and Computer Vision 2014 — 2016

Rochester Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Science in Motion Picture Science Visual Perception and Display Technology 2011 — 2014

Get In Touch

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in discussing technology innovation, strategic partnerships, and new opportunities in the Media & Entertainment space.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Current Role: Sr. Manager, Emerging Technology — AI & Immersive, Disney
Focus Areas: AI, Immersive Media, Content Innovation