Ep. 94 First-Party Data, Retail Media, and Resilience with Elizabeth Donovan

In this episode of the AdTechGod pod, Elizabeth Donovan, SVP Global Head of Commerce and Retail Media Networks at Kinesso/Acxiom/IPG , shares her journey into the retail media space, discussing her experiences at Marriott Media Networks and AccuWeather.

She emphasizes the importance of first-party data, the transformation in retail media, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a predominantly male industry. Elizabeth also highlights the significance of work-life balance and her aspirations for the next generation in the advertising industry. Takeaways

• Elizabeth Donovan has a rich background in retail media, having worked at Marriott Media Networks and AccuWeather.
• She emphasizes the importance of first-party data in enhancing customer experiences.
• Kineso positions itself as a leader in retail and commerce networks, focusing on data-driven strategies.
• The retail media landscape is rapidly evolving, with a focus on personalization and customer engagement.
• Elizabeth believes in meeting clients where they are in their retail media journey.
• She highlights the importance of collaboration and support within the industry, especially for women.
• Work-life balance is crucial, and Elizabeth dedicates time to self-care amidst her busy schedule.
• She encourages the next generation to pursue their passions, regardless of industry.
• Elizabeth's journey reflects the challenges and triumphs of women in leadership roles in ad tech.
• The conversation underscores the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced advertising landscape.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retail Media Expertise

01:08 Elizabeth's Journey into Retail Media

04:44 Kineso's Positioning in the Market

07:07 Transformation in Retail Media

09:52 The Role of First-Party Data

14:02 Challenges and Triumphs as a Woman in Ad Tech

19:06 Balancing Work and Personal Life

22:14 Future Aspirations for the Next Generation

On Today's The Refresh News: Walmart, Google, and the Shifting Ad Market

The Refresh breaks down three of the week’s biggest stories in advertising: Walmart opening up its relationship with The Trade Desk, Google’s use of advanced AI to combat ad fraud, and a recap of Upfront ad commitments that reveal the growing dominance of streaming. The conversation touches on the challenges facing independent DSPs, how advertisers continue to chase performance-driven platforms, and why streaming continues to pull dollars away from broadcast and cable.

5 Key Highlights:

• Walmart and The Trade Desk’s partnership, once exclusive, is now open—raising questions about Walmart’s long-term retail media strategy.

• The Trade Desk faces pressure from big tech platforms like Amazon and Google, who offer first-party data and vertically integrated capabilities independent DSPs can’t match.

• Google has been quietly using multimodal large language models to reduce invalid traffic, achieving a reported 40% drop in mobile ad fraud.

• Variety reports that primetime TV ad commitments declined again in 2025, while streaming saw nearly an 18% increase in ad spend.

• Advertisers are chasing targeted audiences and programmatic opportunities in streaming, while networks push premium primetime content—including live sports—onto digital platforms.

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