Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan, founder of Drawbridge and Samooha, shares her impressive journey from AdMob to LinkedIn. She dives into the explosive growth of mobile advertising during the iPhone launch and what it took to navigate the acquisition by Google. Kamakshi discusses challenges in ad tech regulation and the importance of strong customer relationships. Her insights on empowering product teams and advice for female entrepreneurs are particularly inspiring, as she reflects on the balance between leadership and personal decisions in her career.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Info Theory to AdMob
Kamakshi transitioned from theoretical algorithm design in information theory to the practical challenges at AdMob through a chance meeting with the CEO Omar.
She embraced building solutions from first principles despite no initial marketable product experience.
insights INSIGHT
AdMob's Unique Timing and Challenge
Mobile advertising was nascent and signal sparse compared to desktop, requiring novel algorithmic approaches.
AdMob's timing with the iPhone launch and strategic innovation were key to its rapid growth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
AdMob Acquisition Stress
AdMob's acquisition by Google took nearly eight months delayed by regulatory review, creating a stressful limbo period.
Founders had to operate independently despite uncertainty, demanding resilience and focus.
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Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan shares her journey from AdMob to founding Drawbridge and her subsequent transition to LinkedIn. She discusses the mobile advertising revolution, the success of AdMob during the iPhone launch, and its acquisition by Google. Kamakshi highlights Drawbridge's unique value proposition and the challenges of navigating ad tech regulations. She offers insights on customer relationships, board management, and acquisition processes. Kamakshi also delves into her transition to LinkedIn, founding Samooha, and the complexities of data collaboration. The episode concludes with advice for founders, especially female entrepreneurs, and the importance of empowering product teams.
(0:00) Introduction of Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan
(0:25) Kamakshi's journey from AdMob to Drawbridge
(3:42) Joining AdMob and the mobile advertising revolution
(7:37) AdMob's success with the iPhone launch and Google acquisition
(13:00) AdMob's company culture, legacy, and reactions to acquisition
(21:21) Founding Drawbridge post-Google and navigating ad tech
(29:23) Drawbridge's value proposition and the impact of regulations
(34:01) LinkedIn as an early customer to acquisition considerations
(38:27) Founder advice on customer relationships and board management
(47:08) Acquisition process, investor alignment, and personal reflections
(55:25) Tips for first-time founders during acquisitions
(57:40) Transition to LinkedIn and insights on startup costs and rewards
(1:06:04) Leadership lessons from Microsoft and founding Samooha
(1:11:02) Vision for Samooha and data collaboration in enterprises
(1:14:20) Building a well-rounded founder team and navigating the ad industry
(1:17:51) Early wins, raising capital, and corporate investment considerations
(1:27:21) Data collaboration complexities and the acquisition by Snowflake
(1:35:01) Advice for founders and corporates in data collaboration
(1:38:26) Encouragement for female founders and empowering product teams
(1:41:05) Product innovation and episode conclusion
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