AdTechGod Pod

Erez Levin, an ad tech advisor and former Google programmatic lead, shares insights drawn from his impressive 13-year journey at Google. He tackles the complexities of defining quality in marketing, emphasizing that it's a spectrum, not binary. Erez argues that marketers must challenge the status quo and demand effectiveness for their spending. He believes the long tail of publishers risks commoditization, while unique, high-quality media will become more valuable. Trust your instincts and advocate for smarter quality controls in advertising.

David Danziger, SVP of Partnerships at Dstillery, brings a wealth of ad tech experience from companies like LiveRamp and The Trade Desk. He dives into the transformative effects of AI and machine learning on audience targeting, emphasizing the ongoing importance of human relationships in client interactions. David highlights that while technology refines audience segmentation, human oversight is still crucial to avoid errors. He shares his passion for continuous learning in the dynamic advertising landscape and the necessity of blending technology with a personal touch.

Dani Mariano, CEO of Razorfish with over 11 years at the company, dives into her journey and the evolving marketing landscape. She emphasizes the human element in an AI-driven world and the need for personalized strategies that resonate, especially with younger generations. Dani highlights the differences between Gen Z and Gen Alpha, stressing how brands risk missing the latter. The conversation also explores authenticity amidst technological change and the importance of mentorship in career growth. Expect insights on balancing innovation with genuine consumer engagement.

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, host AdTechGod speaks with Brittany Scott, VP of Brand Partnerships at Zefr. Brittany shares her unique journey from working at major brands like Kellogg and SC Johnson to transitioning into the ad tech space at Meta and now Zefr. The conversation delves into the importance of brand safety and suitability in advertising, the impact of legacy brands on current strategies, and the challenges of navigating brand reputation in a digital landscape. Brittany also discusses the cultural shifts she experienced moving from brand to ad tech, and her excitement about the future of AI in advertising. Takeaways Brittany's journey into advertising was unplanned but rewarding. Working at legacy brands shaped Brittany's understanding of brand safety. Brand safety is crucial for maintaining brand reputation. Crisis management is a key aspect of brand partnerships. Cultural differences exist between brand and ad tech environments. AI presents both challenges and opportunities for advertising. Brands need to adapt their strategies to the evolving digital landscape. Building strong partnerships is essential for success in ad tech. Understanding regulatory components is vital for brand safety. Innovation and speed are critical in the ad tech industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Brittany Scott and Zefr 01:23 Brittany's Journey in Advertising 05:48 Understanding Brand Safety and Zefr Role 08:29 The Importance of Brand Legacy 11:25 Navigating Brand Reputation in Crisis 14:58 Cultural Shifts from Brand to Ad Tech 22:29 The Future of AI in Advertising AdTech’s New Frontier: OpenAds, AdCP, and the Streaming Power Duo This week’s episode of The Refresh dives into three major developments reshaping the advertising landscape. The Trade Desk takes center stage with its new OpenAds and PubDesk tools, aiming to clean up the programmatic supply chain while stirring industry debate. Meanwhile, the debut of Ad Context Protocol (AdCP) marks a potential turning point for agentic AI in digital media, proposing a standardized framework for AI-driven ad transactions. Finally, Netflix and Spotify join forces to expand video podcast distribution, signaling a shift in how audiences consume and advertisers monetize cross-platform content. 5 Key Highlights: The Trade Desk’s OpenAds and PubDesk Launch: Introduced at the Prebid Summit, these tools aim to bring transparency and auditability to programmatic auctions. OpenAds introduces auction verification features, while PubDesk provides publishers with detailed auction and market insights. Industry Controversy Around OpenAds: Critics argue that The Trade Desk’s approach to transaction IDs and auction control gives it too much influence over publishers, echoing antitrust concerns seen in other major adtech cases. Introduction of Ad Context Protocol (AdCP): Spearheaded by Brian O’Kelley and built on Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, AdCP standardizes communication between AI agents in advertising, with backing from PubMatic, Yahoo, and Scope3. Promise and Challenges of Agentic AI: Supporters see AdCP as the next OpenRTB, enabling seamless AI-to-AI media transactions, while skeptics question its ability to overcome adoption barriers and address critical issues like fraud prevention and payments. Netflix and Spotify’s Video Podcast Partnership: Starting next year, Spotify’s video podcasts will stream on Netflix, enhancing reach for creators and advertisers while positioning Netflix as a new competitor in the video podcast space alongside YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging chat, Amy Lanzi, CEO of Digitas North America, discusses her leap from finance to advertising leadership. She highlights the evolution of client needs, emphasizing a shift toward media investment over creativity. Amy explores the transformative role of AI and synthetic audiences in marketing strategies. She advocates for female leadership, encouraging women to embrace their strengths and support one another. Additionally, she explains how creators act as brand concierges, essential for fostering authentic consumer connections.

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, host AdTechGod speaks with Dan Callahan and Alexander Groysman from Spectrum Reach about the evolving landscape of television advertising. They discuss their backgrounds, the collaboration between product and revenue teams, the impact of technology and AI on the industry, and the importance of networking. The conversation highlights the balance between traditional and streaming TV, the significance of quality content in advertising, and the role of data in targeting audiences effectively. Takeaways Spectrum Reach is innovating in the ad tech space. Collaboration between product and revenue teams is essential. AI and machine learning are transforming advertising solutions. Streaming complements traditional TV advertising. Quality content is more important than quantity in advertising. Networking is crucial for success in the industry. First-party data is a key differentiator for Spectrum Reach. Educating advertisers about streaming is necessary. The industry is evolving rapidly with new technologies. Building relationships can lead to successful partnerships. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Spectrum Reach and Guests 01:06 Backgrounds of Dan Callahan and Alexander Groysman 03:11 Collaboration Between Product and Revenue Teams 04:31 Evolution of Technology in the Industry 06:30 Impact of Streaming on Advertising 08:10 Targeting Audiences: Connected vs Traditional TV 10:08 Hype vs Reality in Ad Tech 13:23 AI and Innovations in Advertising Solutions 17:25 Leveraging Data for Effective Advertising 19:34 The Importance of Networking in the Industry Mastercard, Roku, Spotify, and Amazon Push Forward in Ads, and this week’s Refresh dives into a wave of product updates and partnerships shaping advertising and media. Mastercard is making a bold move into commerce media, Roku and AppsFlyer are enhancing CTV measurement, Spotify expands its ad exchange reach with new DSP integrations, and Amazon rolls out new devices designed for its upgraded Alexa+ experience. Each update underscores how scale, data access, and measurement are driving the next phase of advertising innovation. 5 Key Highlights: Mastercard Commerce Media Launch: Mastercard formally enters the ads business with onsite and offsite media offerings, leveraging transaction insights from 500M cardholders and 159B annual transactions to create scale-driven opportunities for advertisers. Roku & AppsFlyer Partnership: The integration expands into a two-way API connection for stronger cross-channel measurement, giving advertisers tools to validate CTV’s performance impact on mobile and social behaviors. Spotify’s Ad Tech Expansion: Spotify Ad Exchange now integrates with Amazon DSP and Yahoo DSP, boosting inventory accessibility and enabling richer data-driven targeting, while programmatic adoption is already up 142% year-to-date. Amazon Alexa+ Devices: Four new Echo devices debut with chips and sensors tailored for conversational AI, positioning Alexa+ as a more personalized assistant woven into daily routines, from smart home control to wellness nudges. Commerce Media Growth Trend: Mastercard’s move highlights how vertical-specific media networks (financial, travel, retail) are proliferating, with offsite inventory and data governance emerging as key factors for advertiser adoption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a captivating discussion, Ari Paparo, an ad tech entrepreneur, and Terence Kawaja, an industry veteran, explore how AI and consolidation are reshaping the advertising landscape. Tom Deerlein shares the inspiring story of the TD Foundation, emphasizing the impact of rapid crisis aid for veterans. Agency leaders Lauren Wetzel and Sam Bloom delve into the evolving role of agencies, the importance of data autonomy, and fostering people-first cultures in AI-driven environments. Tune in for insights on authenticity, live advertising, and the future of the industry!

In this episode of the AdTechGod pod, host AdTechGod speaks with Kelly Metz, Chief Investment Officer at Spark Foundry. They discuss Kelly's career journey through the advertising and media landscape, the importance of relationships in the industry, and the diverse clientele at Spark Foundry. Kelly shares insights on the evolving role of a CIO, the impact of AI on client expectations, and the shift towards connected TV in media strategies. The conversation also touches on balancing personal and professional life in the fast-paced advertising world. Takeaways Kelly emphasizes the importance of building relationships in the advertising industry. She believes that media is inherently fun and constantly evolving. Kelly's role as a CIO involves navigating both client and media partner relationships. Understanding technology is essential for effective media investment. Clients often expect immediate efficiency from AI, which is a misconception. The shift to connected TV has changed how brands approach media strategies. Kelly advocates for a deeper understanding of audience insights for better outcomes. She highlights the need for simplicity in navigating complex media ecosystems. Balancing work and personal life is crucial for long-term happiness in the industry. Kelly enjoys activities like going to the beach and playing pickleball to unwind. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kelly Metz and Her Journey 03:01 The Importance of Relationships in Advertising 05:33 Understanding Spark Foundry's Diverse Clientele 08:19 The Role of a CIO in Media Investment 11:06 Navigating AI and Client Expectations 14:02 The Shift in Media Strategies with Connected TV 16:34 Balancing Personal and Professional Life in Advertising Google’s Antitrust Remedies, Gemini in Chrome, and IAS’s $1.9B Buyout This week’s episode of The Refresh unpacks major shifts in the adtech landscape. Kait covers the remedies phase of Google’s adtech antitrust trial, Google’s integration of Gemini into Chrome, and Integral Ad Science’s acquisition by private equity firm Novacap. The discussion highlights how legal battles, AI rollouts, and consolidation are reshaping digital advertising. Google entered the remedies phase of its adtech antitrust trial, with the DOJ pushing for structural remedies like divesting AdX and DFP, while Google argues for behavioral fixes such as more transparent auction rules. Judge Brinkema must weigh whether forced divestitures would dismantle Google’s monopoly or risk destabilizing the broader display ad ecosystem. Google integrated its AI assistant Gemini into Chrome, starting on desktop with features like page summaries, live chat, and cross-product task coordination across Maps, YouTube, and Calendar. The move follows the search antitrust trial outcome, where Google avoided severe penalties such as being forced to divest Chrome, maintaining its ecosystem dominance strategy. Integral Ad Science will be acquired by Novacap for $1.9 billion, taking the company private to accelerate AI-driven product innovation and strengthen its role in ad verification amid growing private equity investment in adtech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, host AdTechGod interviews John Piccone, the Regional President of Adform Americas. They discuss John's extensive background in the ad tech industry, the importance of addressing the overlooked 40% of audiences, and how Adform's independence and transparency set it apart in a competitive market. John shares insights on the evolving landscape of digital advertising, the significance of data-driven marketing, and the future trends that excite him as they approach the fourth quarter. Takeaways John Piccone has a rich background in ad tech, having worked with major companies. Adform offers a full tech stack, providing various tools for advertisers. Understanding the 40% of users who are often overlooked is crucial for brands. Transparency in the programmatic marketplace is essential for building trust. Brands can achieve more with less by optimizing their advertising strategies. The fragmentation of channels complicates audience targeting for marketers. Adform's independence allows for a focus on brand needs over inventory sales. GDPR compliance gives Adform an edge in understanding privacy regulations. Brands need to adapt to changing dynamics in the advertising landscape. Incremental reach can be achieved without increasing budget size. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Adform and John Piccone 02:55 John Piccone's Journey in Ad Tech 05:45 Addressing the Overlooked 40% Audience 08:23 The Role of Independence in Ad Tech 11:25 Looking Ahead: Innovations and Future Trends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hillary Slattery, Senior Director of Product Management at IAB Tech Lab, brings a wealth of experience from various ad tech roles. She dives into the explosive growth of programmatic advertising, especially in CTV, while highlighting the critical challenges of transparency and data sharing. Hillary discusses innovative strategies for live event advertising and the rising importance of content curation. Additionally, she elaborates on how AI is transforming the advertising landscape and her passion as a female leader in tech.