The 100 Most Influential People In AdTech
Get access to exclusive interviews with online advertising experts, along with a recap of what's happening in AdTech every week:
Readers:
Mari Smith
Mari Smith is a social media consultant, trainer, and keynote speaker at the social media marketing consultancy Mari Smith International. Called “the queen of Facebook,” she helps clients ranging from large businesses to individuals use social media to build relationships and generate sales and revenue. She is a bestselling author and Founding Contributor to the blog Social Media Examiner.
Danny Sullivan
Danny Sullivan is Public Liaison for Search at Google. He helps the public understand search and relays public opinion and needs to Google. Prior to this, he was President at Calafia Consulting and Chief Content Officer and Chief Advisor at Third Door Media, publishers of Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, and MarTech Today.
Ann Handley
Ann Handley is Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs, a marketing consultancy serving large corporations. Prior to this, she founded two digital marketing startups, including ClickZ. ForbesWoman calls her one of the top 20 women bloggers and she has been named “the most influential woman in social media.” She also wrote the best-selling content creation guide “Everybody Writes.”
Frank Addante
Frank Addante is the Chairman and Founder of Rubicon Project, an automated advertising platform. Rubicon Project merged with Telaria to form Magnite, the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising platform. He is also the author of FounderBlog.com. Prior to this, he founded companies including the email infrastructure company StrongView (formerly StrongMail Systems), which was acquired by Selligent.
Amy Porterfield
Amy Porterfield is the CEO at Amy Porterfield, Inc. An online marketing trainer focusing on email lists, online courses, and webinars, she hosts the Podcast Online Marketing Made Easy leveraging her own experience and appearances from online marketing experts. Prior to this, she was Director of Content Development at Anthony Robbins Companies.
David Carroll
David Carroll is Associate Professor of Media Design at Parsons the New School for Design and was Director of their MFA Design and Technology Graduate Program. He was featured in the Great Hack (the Netflix documentary on Cambridge Analytica), founded the Center for Mobile Creativity, and directed media for major clients including AOL, CNN, FOX, HBO, PBS, and many others.
John Paul Aguiar
John Paul Aguiar is a blogger who has helped people create businesses using blogging and social media marketing at JohnPaulAguiar.com for 15+ years. Forbes called him one of the most influential people in social media (2013-2015) and he has been named among the 100 top influencers in small business marketing and social media marketing.
Daniel Gilbert
Daniel Gilbert is CEO at Brainlabs, a digital marketing agency that uses a “‘Test & Learn” approach, serving major clients including American Express, eBay, Expedia, Harrods, the Financial Times, and others. They were #1 on the Deloitte Fast50 Tech Track and received the Masters of Marketing Agency of the Year Award two years in a row. Prior to this, he was at Google.
Cindy Gallop
Cindy Gallop is Founder at Cindy Gallop LLC, and she consults for clients and brands seeking to create radical, innovative change and lead diversity in their industries. She is also Founder and CEO of IfWeRanTheWorld, a platform designed to turn good intentions into actions and attain business objectives, as well as Founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn.
Kim Reynolds
Kim Reynolds is a social media consultant and Owner of Kim Reynolds Digital. Prior to this, she was Marketing Manager and Facebook Adverting Specialist at Social Media Examiner and the Vice President – Paid Media at Cloud Ten Creative, a full-service social media and digital marketing agency for the film industry. She also founded The Outdoor Warehouse.
Wendy Clark
Wendy Clark is Global CEO at Dentsu International, a creative, media, and customer experience management (CXM) agency helping major brands become positive forces and connect to their clients. Prior to this, she was CEO of DDB Worldwide and was in high-level marketing roles at Coca-Cola and AT&T. Her Twitter shares project updates and her optimistic take on the world.
Bryan Eisenberg
Bryan Eisenberg is Keynote Speaker and Partner – Buyer Legends at Eisenberg Holdings, LLC, a business optimization and marketing firm serving clients including Google, Health Insurance Innovations, and NBC Universal. He is a top blogger, author, and influencer, and an advisor to several technology and AdTech projects including OneSpot, a top marketing technology company using machine learning to individualize content.
Zoe Cairns
Zoe Cairns is a Social Media Speaker, Trainer, and Consultant at her company, ZCSocialMedia, focusing on social media strategy and high-profile campaigns. Her clients include major brands and Fortune 500 companies, and she has been featured on BBC, ITV, and The Telegraph. Prior to this, she was an Independent Financial and Mortgage Advisor.
John Koetsier
John Koetsier is Founder and CEO of Sparkplug9, a tech startup business consultancy helping clients improve their market insights, data, and branding to get more attention. He is also the host of their show and podcast TechFirst. A columnist at Forbes and advisor to several startups, his interests include mobile, AI, internet of things, and robotics.
Russell Brunson
Russell Brunson is Co-founder of ClickFunnels (serving 90,000+ entrepreneurs with online marketing solutions), the host of the top business podcast Marketing Secrets, and a New York Times bestselling author. He popularized the use of sales funnels and has been featured in media outlets including Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Faris Yakobi
Faris Yakob is Founder at Genius Steals, a strategy, idea, communication, and marketing consultancy. He has worked with Facebook, Coca-Cola, Accenture, Microsoft, and many of the world’s largest brands. He is an influential digital futurist and author of “Paid Attention: Innovative Advertising for a Digital World.” He was also interviewed for Yahoo’s New Futurist series.
Christel Quek
Christel Quek is Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of BOLT, an innovative, interactive platform that monetizes user time spent by converting it to BOLT Tokens, cash, or goods. She is also an advisor to the blockchain startups Zilliqa and Switcheo. She previously worked in digital strategy at Twitter, Brandwatch, Havas, and Samsung and appeared in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Bob Hoffman
Bob Hoffman is a well-known advertising and marketing expert, author of five bestselling books, a prominent speaker, and is featured in numerous international media outlets. His book “BadMen: How Advertising Went from a Minor Annoyance to a Major Menace” uncovered how marketers use dangerous data practices. He also writes the blog The Ad Contrarian.
David Berkowitz
David Berkowitz is a marketing consultant providing product positioning and business development for B2B clients including Meetup, Vestorly, Dedicated.ai, and Research Your Health. He also founded the Serial Marketers online community. Prior to this, he worked with brands including Coca-Cola, Porsche, and Johnson & Johnson; spoke at 350+ events; and guest lectured at schools including MIT, Yale, and NYU.
Ed Leake
Ed Leake is Founder of AdEvolver, an auto-optimization tool for Google ads including one-click optimization, budgetary tools, and other safeguards. He is also Owner at AdBoozter, a cost-effective AdWords optimizer. Prior to this, he was Managing Director at the Google ads agency Midas Media. He also advises on projects including crowdfunding campaigns.
Perry Marshall
Perry S. Marshall is an influential marketing consultant who has received accolades in Forbes and Inc. Magazine and was published in Harvard Business Review. He wrote “The Ultimate Guide to Google Ads,” the top-selling book on internet marketing, and he has developed the 80/20 principle into tools that, among other applications, have been used to improve productivity at NASA.
Jason Kint
Jason Kint is CEO at Digital Content Next, a trade organization for digital content companies serving marketers and encompassing many major brands. They produce research, advocacy, and public information. Prior to this, he was SVP/General Manager – Sports at CBS Interactive. An early digital content leader, he was selected as one of SBJ's 20 Most Influential in Digital Sports Media.
Tim Ash
Tim Ash is a digital marketing advisor, keynote speaker (200+ events), and the author of the bestselling book “Landing Page Optimization.” An early pioneer of conversion rate optimization (CRO), he also founded the international conference series Digital Growth Unleashed. Entrepreneur Magazine called him an Online Marketing Influencer to Watch and Forbes selected him as a Top-10 Online Marketing Expert.
Jonathan Mildenhall
Jonathan Mildenhall is Chief Marketing Officer at Dave – Banking for Humans and is an internationally-respected marketing and advertising professional focused on defining purpose and values, digital transformation, and brand strategy. He is also Co-founder and Chair of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand. Prior to this, he led marketing at Coca-Cola and Airbnb. He is also a public speaker advocating for diversity and equity.
David Griner
David Griner is Creative and Innovation Editor at Adweek and Podcast Host of Yeah, That's Probably an Ad. Prior to this, he was VP/Director of Digital Content and Luckie & Company, creating innovative digital advertising and content strategy for clients including McAlister's Deli, Asheville Tourism, and Little Debbie. He was also Contributing Editor at AdFreak, growing traffic into the millions.
Jessica Smith
Jess Smith is Digital Marketing Strategy and Content Lead for the Rangers, and before this she worked in digital marketing at the New York Yankees, IMG LIVE, Under Armour, and the NCAA. She focuses on building brand identity to reach customers and create results. She also writes about social media and the sporting industry on her blog.
Brad Geddes
Brad Geddes is Co-founder of Brad has a accountAdalysis, software for pay-per-click recommendations for Google and Microsoft ads. He is also PPC Faculty Chair at Simplilearn and the author of “Advanced Google Adwords.” He provides internet marketing training through official Google AdWords Seminars for Success, writes for several marketing sites, and has spoken at 125 events worldwide.
James Whatley
James Whatley is Strategy Partner at Digitas UK with expertise in brand strategy, technology, innovation, and social media. He is also Co-founder at DICE (Diversity & Inclusion at Conferences and Events). Prior to this, he was Strategy Partner at Ogilvy UK (serving clients including Boots, Dove, Pizza Hut, and Kronenbourg 1664) and Head of Social Media at SpinVox.
Jen Slegg
Jennifer Slegg is Founder and Editor of the SEM Post, focused on marketing, search engine optimization, and pay-per-click. With 20 years of experience in this field and writing across several publications, she also specializes in content monetization and audits and speaks regularly at major industry events including Pubcon, State of Search, SMX, and Brighton SEO.
Josh Sternberg
Josh Sternberg is Editor at The Media Nut, a “must-read” daily newsletter on media, publishers, brands, agencies, and adtech with 3,300 executive subscribers. Prior to this, he was Brand, Media, and Tech Editor at Adweek and led branded content teams at NBC News and the Washington Post. He has written for The Atlantic, Pacific Standard, and The Awl, among others.
Mike Shields
Mike Shields is CEO of Shields Strategic Consulting, providing strategic communications consulting to media and marketing executives, as well as advising on positioning, go-to-market strategy, and marketing. He has 15 years of experience as a journalist covering media and advertising, as a former Senior Editor at Business Insider, The Wall Street Journal, Digiday, and Adweek.
Lara O'Reilly
Lara O'Reilly is Senior Correspondent at Digiday, covering adtech, marketing, business, and technology. Prior to this, she was Executive Producer on the Global Change Agents video series by Yahoo Finance; a reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering media, advertising, and marketing; and the writer of their CMO Today newsletter. She was also Senior Editor – Advertising for Business Insider.
Rachel Pedersen
Rachel Pedersen is Founder and CEO at The Viral Touch, a digital marketing firm promising transformative results. A TikTok expert, she also founded the online education platform Social Media United, aiming to help her clients turn their lives around. She has appeared in the Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, the Today Show, The Huffington Post, Content Marketing Institute, and Funnel Magazine.
Ginny Marvin
Ginny has a accountGinny Marvin is Editor-in-Chief at Third Door Media, managing their brands Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, and MarTech Today. Prior to this, she was a digital marketing consultant for industries including retail, hi-tech, B2B, and higher education. She appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and Marketplace Tech and was quoted in outlets including The New York Times and Business Insider.
Kevin Gibbons
Kevin Gibbons is Founder and CEO of Re:signal, an SEO and content marketing agency serving clients including Deloitte, Auto Trader, Expedia, and Pottery Barn (and recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies). He won 17 UK/EU/Global Search Awards and was called Search Personality of the Year in 2018. He is also a speaker and columnist for Fast Company and others.
Martin Weigel
Martin Weigel is Head of Planning at Wieden+Kennedy, a marketing agency with offices in Portland, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, and Sao Paulo and serving some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Prior to this, he was Planning Director at other major advertising agencies and has 27 years of experience in strategy.
Ari Paparo
Ari Paparo is CEO of BeeswaxIO, a tech startup offering a cloud-based real-time media bidder. Prior to this, he was EVP Product Management for Bazaarvoice, a SaaS solution for site ratings. He was also Product Director – Advertiser Products at Google, managing ad technologies including DoubleClick Rich Media, developing Nielsen's Online GRP, and writing the VAST standard for online advertising.
Katherine M. Gordon
Katherine M. Gordon is Founder of the 3% Conference, a movement for racial inclusivity in business. Author of “The Future Belongs to Belonging: How Inclusive Cultures Unlock World-Changing Creativity,” she was Advertising Age’s Visionary of the Year in 2018. She has been featured in USA Today, Fast Company, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., and The New York Times.
Frederick Vallaeys
Frederick Vallaeys is Co-founder and CEO at Optmyzr, a SaaS solution for more efficient Google AdWords and Bing Ads using deep automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He is a top influencer in pay-per-click marketing, and he was Google’s first ever AdWords Evangelist. A contributor to Search Engine Land and other technology and marketing outlets, he has written four books.
Veronica Genti
Veronica Gentili is Co-founder/Web and Social Media Marketing Specialist at Glisco Marketing, where she consults on social media marketing, digital marketing, and community management. Her clients include AdEspresso, Hootsuite, Millionaire, La Stampa, and Flying Tiger Copenhagen. She also founded the Veronica Gentili Academy offering 50 free courses in social media for business and wrote Italy’s top three Facebook marketing books.
Shoshana Wodinsky
Shoshana Wodinsky is Data Reporter at Gizmodo focusing on tech policy, consumer privacy, online advertising, and how adtech relates to discrimination. Prior to this, she was Adtech and Platforms Reporter at Adweek. Her work has appeared or been cited in outlets including NBC News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
Purna Virji
Purna Virji is the Senior Manager – Global Engagement at Microsoft. She was 2019’s US Search Personality of the Year and was named the World’s #1 Most Influential Expert by PPC Hero in 2016. She is a keynote speaker and writer with interests in digital marketing, pay-per-click, and AI. Prior to this, she was the Senior Marketing Manager at Stroll.
Matt Umbro
Matthew Umbro is Key Account Director at Brainlabs, a data-driven digital marketing agency, where he improves client lead generation and brand awareness to increase return on investment. He is also Founder of Twitter’s weekly PPC Chat. Prior to this, he spent 13 years in the search industry, at Hanapin Marketing, Exclusive Concepts, and PixelMEDIA.
Patrick Coffee
Patrick Coffee is a correspondent at Business Insider covering media and advertising. Prior to this, he was Editor at Large at Adweek and he managed the blog AgencySpy. He has also worked at Media Bistro and New York Magazine. He focuses on advertising news and public relations controversies.
Melissa Mackey
Melissa Mackey is Search Supervisor at Gyro, the B2B flagship agency for Dentsu Aegis Network serving global clients. She has been called one of the Top 50 Most Influential PPC Experts and delivered speeches at SMX Advanced and HeroConf. She also maintains the blog Beyond the Paid. Prior to this, she was an Online Marketing Manager at Fluency Media.
Marty Swant
Marty Swant is a Staff Writer at Forbes and the editor of their CMO Network, which covers the role of the Chief Marketing Officer in marketing and advertising. He also manages their CMO Next, 30 Under 30 (Marketing and Advertising), and World's Most Valuable Brands. Prior to this, he covered technology for Adweek and wrote for the Associated Press.
Kirk Williams
Kirk Williams is owner of ZATO, a micro-agency focusing on paid search for shopping ads. PPC Hero named him one of the world’s Top 25 Most Influential PPCers for four years in a row, (2016-2019). A conference speaker, he is also the author of “Ponderings of a PPC Professional,” has written for numerous professional outlets, and co-hosts PPC Chat.
Rachel Mercer
Rachel Mercer is VP, Head of Strategy (New York) at the marketing agency R/GA. She has served multinational brands including Google, Adidas, Verizon, Target, Volkswagen, Acuvue (Johnson & Johnson), Coca-Cola, AB inBev, World Economic Forum, and many more. She has been recognized by publications including Forbes, Business Insider, The New York Times, Wired, Fast Company, Adweek, and The Economist.
Stacy Minero
Stacy Minero is Global Head of Twitter ArtHouse, helping global brands create engaging content, run campaigns, and produce livestreamed events. Prior to this, she has worked in marketing for brands including Coca-Cola, Hershey, P&G, and American Express, and in partnership with shows such as Lost, Prison Break, 24, Project Runway, and 30 Rock. Adweek named her a Media All-Star.
Lauren Johnson
Lauren Johnson is Senior Advertising Reporter at Business Insider, reporting on revolutionary adtech and martech, digital media, and the impact of big tech on advertising. She also writes their newsletter, Insider Advertising. Prior to this, she was Senior Technology Editor at Adweek at a reporter at Mobile Marketer.
Ronan Shields
Ronan Shields is the Programmatic Editor at Adweek. His interests are in digital media, digital marketing, mobile technology, mobile marketing, and publishing. Prior to this, he was Digital Editor at The Drum, Executive Editor at Exchange Wire, and reported on marketing and media at Centaur Communications.
Lucia Moses
Lucia Moses is Deputy Editor at Business Insider, reporting on advertising, media, business disruption caused by digital technologies (particularly big tech), subscription services, and online media startups. She also writes a weekly newsletter there. Prior to this, she was Executive Editor at Digiday focused on the transition of publishing companies to digital and News Editor at Adweek.
Meg Graham
Meg Graham is Advertising and Marketing Reporter at CNBC.com. Much of her recent work focuses on Big Tech, its impact on the 2020 US election, and government oversight. Prior to this, she reported on advertising agencies for Ad Age, technology and startups for Blue Sky Innovation at The Chicago Tribune, and business for The Chicago Sun-Times.
Lisa Raehsler
Lisa Raehsler is Founder and Search Engine Marketing/Pay-Per-Click Strategy Consultant at the marketing consultancy Big Click Co., where she has spent 24 years helping businesses achieve goals in branding, lead generation, and sales. A Bing Ads MVP, Microsoft MVP, and top 25 PPC influencer, she speaks at events and contributes to publications including Search Engine Journal and Bing Ads Blog.
John Lee
John Lee is Learning Strategist – Client Experience Design and Delivery for Bing Ads at Microsoft Advertising. Prior to this, he was Managing Partner at Clix Marketing, the Owner of Bakedwheat Web Enterprises, and worked in search marketing at WordStream and Hanapin Marketing. A public speaker, trainer, and blogger, his interests include social media, search, and display advertising.
Samantha Noble
Samantha Noble is Founder at Biddable Moments, a paid social media and pay-per-click consultancy. She also founded Digital Females, which unites women in the digital marketing industry and has 750+ members and 16+ events. She has been a judge of several search and marketing events and spoken at events including PubCon, SearchLove, and AdWorld Experience.
Kelsey Sutton
Kelsey Sutton is Streaming Editor at Adweek, covering streaming TV. Prior to this, she was a reporter in media and politics at Mic and Media Reporter at POLITICO. She shares breaking news about advertising, TV, business, and media through her Twitter account.
Kristina Monllos
Kristina Monllos is Marketing Editor at Digiday, with interests in ad agencies, media planning, and media buying. Prior to this, she was Brands Editor at Adweek and a Senior Editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor. She has been published in outlets including Rolling Stone, The Awl, and ELLE, and appeared in The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and other shows.
Jason Lynch
Jason Lynch is TV Editor at AdWeek, where he manages all online and print TV-related publications, writes feature stories, and makes public appearances. He is noted for his industry analysis, trendspotting abilities, and programming leadership. Prior to this, he was TV Editor/Senior Editor at People Magazine and launched the national weekly magazine Closer Weekly.
Michelle Morgan
Michelle Morgan is Director of Client Services at ClixMarketing, a pay-per-click, social media, and display ad agency. Prior to this, she was Paid Search Manager at Veteran’s United Home Loans, and she is certified in Google AdWords and Bing Ads. She is a writer and speaker appearing in SMX, HeroConf, Search Engine Journal, and PubCon.
Massimo Chieruzzi
Massimo Chieruzzi is General Manager – AdEspresso at Hootsuite. He founded AdEspresso, a Facebook ads management tool, in 2012 (aquired in 2017). Prior to this, he was CEO at Creative Zen, one of Italy’s top web development agencies serving clients including Nokia, eBay, and Heinz/Plasmon. He was also Founder and CEO of the social marketing agency and blog Media Zen.
Elizabeth Marsten
Elizabeth Marsten is Senior Director – Marketplace Strategic Services at Tinuiti, the most successful independent performance marketing agency on Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Prior to this, she was Senior Director – e-Commerce Growth Services at CommerceHub. The author of “Web Marketing for Dummies,” she has spoken at events including SMX Advanced, Mozcon, PPC Hero Con, Marketing Profs University B2B, and PPC Masters.
Aaron Levy
Aaron Levy is Group Director – Search Engine Marketing at the major performance marketing agency Tinuiti. Prior to this, he was Digital Strategy Consultant at his agency Cast Iron Digital and held several other marketing roles. He has managed several billion dollars in media spend and has experience in channels including email campaigns and media buying. He also speaks at conferences.
Tanya Dua
Tanya Dua is Senior Reporter at Business Insider covering advertising, adtech, marketing, and media. Prior to this, she was a reporter at Digiday. She has worked in both digital and print, and she moderates panels at events including SXSW and ShopTalk. Her Twitter covers news about advertising, brands, and agencies.
Amy Bishop
Amy Bishop is Owner and Digital Marketing Consultant at Cultivative and a Digital Marketing Consultant at Lazar Marketing Consulting. She previously worked in marketing roles at companies including Waystar, Clix Marketing, and Hanapin Marketing. She often speaks at industry events including SMX, State of Search, and HeroConf, and she writes a column for Search Engine Land.
Robert Brady
Robert Brady is a pay-per-click management and conversion optimization consultant who has been named one of the Top-25 Most Influential PPC Experts (2017). A speaker at events including Pubcon, he writes his own blog and his work has been featured in Small Biz Trends, Practical Ecommerce, Search Engine People, and Clix Marketing (among others).
Christi Olson
Christi Olson is Head of Search Adverting at Microsoft and has been on the Board of Directors of the Internet Marketing Association, Paid Search Association, and SEMPO. PPC Hero named her a Top 25 Most Influential PPC Expert (2015-2020) and she speaks at events including Adweek, CES, DMEXCO, Mumbrella 360, 4A’s, SMX, Search Insider Summit, and PubCon.
Anders Hjorth
Anders Hjorth is Founder and Digital Marketing Strategist at Innovell. Prior to this, he founded the digital marketing agencies Aznos (which was acquired by Altima in 2016 and then Accenture in 2017), Relevant Traffic, and BDBL MEDIA. He speaks at events including SMX, SearchY, and Heroconf, and writes reports, articles for Search Engine Land, and a monthly newsletter.
Julie F. Bacchini
Julie F Bacchini is Founder and President of the online marketing and development company Neptune Moon, which has operated successfully for 20+ years. She also co-hosts PPC Chat. Specialized in digital and pay-per-click advertising and search engine marketing, she is a Top-25 expert on PPC and appears on influencer lists. She also speaks at HeroConf and SMX.
Luke Alley
Luke Alley is Professor of Marketing at Brigham Young University. Prior to this, he was Vice President – Digital Marketing at Avalaunch Media. He has done on-site SEM training at Google and Bing and spoken at events including SMX, Mortgage Tech Summit, Ticket Summit, and SLCSEM. He sometimes hosts PPCChat and is on the BingAds Accredited Professional Advisory Board.
Sarah Sluis
Sarah Sluis is Senior Editor at AdExchanger and is on their weekly podcast the Big Story covering advertising news. She also moderates panels at events including AdExchanger's Programmatic IO and Industry Preview, DMEXCO, and Advertising Week. Prior to this, she was at outlets including Information Today and Nielsen. She is concerned with how data and tech trends shape media.
Patience Haggin
Patience Haggin is a reporter covering digital advertising for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to this, she wrote on startups, technology, and venture capital in San Francisco. Her interests include adtech, privacy, surveillance, and Covid-19 tech.
George P. Slefo
George P. Slefo is Senior Editorial Manager at The Trade Desk, a self-service technology platform serving advertising buyers by managing personalized, data-driven digital advertising campaigns across channels including display, social, native, and video. They have 23 offices worldwide. Prior to this, he was Technology Reporter at Ad Age, covering adtech, martech, telecoms, social media, digital audio, and consumer privacy.
Sahil Patel
Sahil Patel is a reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering adtech, marketing, technology platforms, digital video, and streaming. Prior to this, he worked at outlets including Digiday, VideoInk, and Cynopsis Media. He posts about business, adtech, marketing, startups, news, and sports on Twitter.
Gavin Dunaway
Gavin Dunaway is Editorial Director at AdMonsters, a community of technology leaders and advertising and digital media professionals. They produce events including the Publisher Forums and Ops Conference, help create best practices, and report on adtech, advertising, and trends. Prior to this, he was Senior Editor at Adotas, a website about interactive advertising.
Lisa Dougherty
Lisa Dougherty is Director of Blog Operations and Community at Content Marketing Institute. They host the world’s largest content marketing event and publish Chief Content Officer, the field’s top magazine. They have also consulted brands including LinkedIn, Oracle, AT&T, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She has been published in outlets including Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and LinkedIn Marketing Blog.
Neil Robinson
Neil Robinson is Co-founder of Chapter SF, a creative branding agency serving clients including Google, Facebook, Uber, Electronic Arts, Kodak, Dropbox, and Oculus. Prior to this, he was Founding Partner at Zeus Jones and a Founding Member AKQA, where he worked with Microsoft, Google+, Target, Visa, Levi’s, BMW, and Nike. He helps brands connect to consumers using creative digital products.
Justin Seibert
Justin Seibert is President and Founder of the top 200 Premier Google Partner company Direct Online Marketing. The quality of their search engine and digital marketing services allows them to retain 85%+ of their clients, without long-term contracts. He also appeared in Hanapin’s Top 25 Most Influential Pay Per Click Advertising Experts list three years in a row.
Frances Donegan-Ryan
Frances Donegan-Ryan is Senior Advisory Programs Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Director of Consumer Marketing at Indicio.tech, a firm providing decentralized identity-based products and services using distributed ledger technology. She also co-founded Janes of Digital (now Open Perspectives), a meetup for inclusivity and diversity in the search and digital industries. Prior to this, she worked at Microsoft.
Pauline Jakober
Pauline Jakober is Founder and CEO at the digital advertising agency and Google AdWords partner Group Twenty Seven. She is also Co-founder of the professional association Search Engine Marketing New England (SEMNE) and writes for Search Engine Watch. She has 20+ years of experience in marketing, specializing in AdWords and paid search.
Guru Gowrappan
Guru Gowrappan is CEO of Verizon Media, where he has helped them reach a market-leading media position with their brands TechCrunch, Yahoo!, AOL, and HuffPost. Prior to this, he was Global Managing Director at the Alibaba Group, leading their international expansion, media products, and ecommerce. He has 15+ years of experience in global internet operations and has co-founded two startups.
Aparna Bawa
Aparna Bawa is the Chief Operating Officer at Zoom Video Communications. With experience in both technology and corporate law, she has led three technology companies through the IPO process. Prior to this, she was SVP – General Counsel at Magento Commerce (the #1 commerce platform with $100 billion in gross merchandise volume annually.
Scott Farquhar
Scott Farquhar is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Atlassian, makers of remote working and project management software for global teams, including Jira and Trello. He is also Co-founder of Pledge1% (alongside Salesforce and Rally), an initiative redefining corporate philanthropy by encouraging companies to “pledge 1% of time, equity, product, and profit.” He is also a startup investor.
Mike Cannon-Brookes
Mike Cannon-Brookes is Co-founder and Co-CEO at the remote productivity and enterprise management software company Atlassian. He is also a Venture Partner at Blackbird Ventures, a startup mentor and investor at Startmate, and has invested in Tyro Payments, Ninjablocks, and Shoes of Prey. His Twitter shares technology and environmental news.
Ragy Thomas
Ragy Thomas is Founder and CEO at Sprinklr, a customer experience management enterprise software company with a platform integrating five products for marketing, advertising, research, customer care, and engagement. He is also a board member for the startups Playpower and Cloth. Prior to this, he was President and Chief Technology Officer at Epsilon Interactive, a major marketing services company.
Tom Keiser
Tom Keiser is the CEO of Hootsuite, the widely used social marketing integration platform. Prior to this, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer at the SaaS and customer experience company Zendesk. He has 30+ years of experience in technology and business transformation, and has also worked at Gap, Ernst & Young, and Capgemini.
Todd Parsons
Todd Parsons is Chief Product Officer at Criteo, ad targeting software that allows advertisers to reach customers who have previously engaged with their product, a key use of adtech. Prior to this, he was Founder and CEO of Aditive, a loyalty marketing platform that served Fortune 500 companies including Gap, Verizon, and L’Oreal (acquired by Acxiom in 2014).
Megan Clarken
Megan Clarken is CEO of the customer-targeting software company Criteo. Prior to this, she was Chief Commercial Officer at Nielsen, where she spent 15 years. This experience gives her unique insight into customer engagement and behavior, which she shares on her Twitter account.
Sean Muller
Sean Muller is Founder and CEO of iSpot.tv, a platform tracking impact of television ads to measure their effectiveness and optimize ROI. His career has been focused in digital and online media, and he has been a part of companies that underwent one IPO and two acquisitions. Prior to this, he was Chief Operating Officer at MediaNet Digital, Inc.
Steve Ganem
Steve Ganem is Senior Product Manager for Google Analytics, Firebase, and Optimize, streamlining integration between apps, Google Cloud, Google Play, Google Ads, and AdMob, and helping predict purchasing behavior. Prior to this, he was Co-founder and President of SuperVillain Studios, makers of a cross-platform game engine, and Co-Founder and CEO of Loop Unlimited (developer of the GameLoop social network).
Vivek Sharma
Vivek Sharma is Founder and CEO at Moveable Ink, an innovative customer visual experience platform that has been featured in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, the Inc. 5000, and Crain's Fast 50. Moveable Ink generates unique, compelling content upon user engagement on display, email, or web. Prior to this, he was Founder and CEO of MetroSpark.
Cynthia Stoddard
Cynthia Stoddard is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Adobe, a leader of digital marketing and media solutions empowering users to deliver digital experiences. Their marketing offerings have recently expanded with their customer data platform and the Adobe Experience Platform Data Governance, which help companies use and manage customer data.
Marc Benioff
Marc Benioff is Founder, Chair, and CEO at Sales Force, the market-leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions provider. Harvard Business Review called him one of the 10 Best-Performing CEOs, Fortune named him one of the World’s 25 Greatest Leaders, and Forbes called him “Innovator of the Decade.” Prior to this, he was Senior Vice President of Oracle Corporation.
Jon Beebe
Jon Beebe is Senior Vice President, Product Strategy and Insights at Epsilon, a data analysis company that boasts a database of 200 million customers and was aquired by Publicis for $4.4 billion. Epsilon and Publicis offer their users an extensive guarantee of results called The Pact. Prior to this, he was at marketing roles at Ford and General Motors.
Simon Berg
Simon Berg is Founder and CEO of Ceros, an experiential content creation platform that allows users to create content experiences without coding. Ceros was made available for free to non-profit groups fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. He is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for innovation, and prior to this, he was CEO of Group FMG.
Adam Hirsen
Adam Hirsen is Co-founder and CEO at UPshow, an engagement platform that seamlessly connects to existing screens and mobile devices in a business to deliver content, drive engagement, and maximize ROI. They currently reach clients and employees on 25,000+ screens around the world. Prior to this, he was Co-founder and CEO at SparkReel.
Sam Huber
Sam Huber is Founder and CEO at Admix, the first in-game monetization platform for game developers, which raised $10+ million in funding. He is also owner of VRFocus, one of the largest communities for virtual and augmented reality with 2+ million visitors per year. He contributes to Forbes, Venture Beat, and The Next Web. Prior to this, he co-founded Kout.
Jay Glogovsky
Jay Glogovsky is Executive Director of Revenue Analytics and Operations at The New York Times, where he oversees aspects of revenue including forecasting, pricing, and inventory. Prior to this, he was Director of Revenue Operations at VICE Media, heading their strategies for digital monetization and data science, and he was Revenue and Optimization Manager at The Weather Company.
Stefan Thomas
Stefan Thomas is Founder and CEO at Coil, which uses open standards to help an online audience support creators directly. He is an advocate for open-source and distributed systems and Co-creator of the open payment protocol Interledger. He is also on the Board of Directors of Imgur, helping them develop monetization opportunities.
Jeff Ray
Jeff Ray is CEO at Brightcove, a video media company working in 70 countries since 2004 by blending innovative technology, global expertise, and sensitive customer support. Their robust platform serves companies such as BBC, Adobe, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, and Master Class. Prior to this, he was President and Chief Executive Officer at Ellucian, a higher education solutions provider.