#85 - Inside Vanderbilt’s Emmy-Winning Video Team w/ Randolph Infinger

Higher Ed Storytelling University

In this episode, John Azoni chats with Randolph Infinger, Senior Video Producer at Vanderbilt University, about his journey from digital marketing to video production, how Vanderbilt’s creative team is structured, and what it takes to produce videos that truly connect with audiences.

Randolph shares his love for conceptual storytelling, explains how jazz influences his editing choices, and offers insight into balancing artistic freedom with brand consistency in a large institution. From project workflows to platform-specific content strategies, this is a must-listen for higher ed marketers navigating in-house video production.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• From Digital Marketing to Video Production: Randolph’s unexpected path into video started with a record label request for lyric videos—a spark that ignited a new creative passion.
• The Jazz Effect: Jazz music plays a key role in Randolph’s editing style, creating a unique and upbeat energy that feels both academic and approachable.
• Creative Team Structure at Vanderbilt: With a five-person visual media team inside a larger 50-person creative team, collaboration and clear role delineation keep projects flowing smoothly.
• How They Triage Projects: Video requests go through a structured process using Wrike, but not every request gets accepted. The team filters projects based on alignment with Vanderbilt’s brand and marketing goals.
• Balancing Consistency and Freedom: While brand alignment is critical, Vanderbilt empowers creators with room to explore, test new ideas, and collaborate across departments and platforms.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Connect with Randolph Infinger on LinkedIn
• Learn more about UNVEILD: https://unveild.tv
• Subscribe to the Higher Ed Storytelling Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter
• Watch podcast episodes on YouTube: Higher Ed Storytelling on YouTube