The Community Exchange Podcast by OpenWeb Owning the Conversation with OpenWeb CEO Jim Daily
Sep 9, 2025
Jim Daily, CEO of OpenWeb and former leader at Teads, shares his fascinating journey from aspiring golf pro to a global ad tech executive. He discusses scaling businesses and the critical role of hiring the right people. Daily dives into the shift towards decentralized platforms for community engagement and the rising challenge of AI disruption. He addresses the untapped potential of user comments and engagement data, highlighting the need for sustainable publisher practices in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Misplaced Golf Dreams To Media
- Jim tried to become a professional golfer after college but realized he wasn't cut out for the PGA within minutes of playing with a top amateur.
- That early pivot led him into advertising and media, shaping his career trajectory.
Scaling A Tiny Startup Into Teads
- Jim joined a small European ad tech firm (e-buzzing) and led acquisitions and rebranding into Teads, scaling it massively.
- He grew North American revenue to ~$300M and global revenue to over $700M before selling to Altice.
Hire People Smarter Than You
- Hire people who are better and smarter than you to build exceptional teams.
- Empower those hires to act autonomously and you'll scale capability faster than hiring clones.