In a market obsessed with results, true leadership means knowing how to deliver them, again and again.
Nick Cote, VP and Head of Supply at TV Scientific, shares how he leads through hyper-growth and constant change in the connected-TV space. He breaks down outcome-based television, how to drive measurable performance at scale, and why clarity and accountability are the ultimate competitive advantages in ad tech’s next chapter.
01:55 Early lessons
03:17 Culture that drives growth
07:25 How TV Scientific redefines performance
09:14 Innovation in CTV
11:25 The shift to outcome-based advertising
18:25 Leading through hyper-growth
26:21 Looking ahead
Amanda Forrester, SVP of Marketing at OpenX, discusses what it means to win the right way. She shares how empathy, integrity and doing things the right way, even when it’s hard, have shapred her leadership and the company’s culture.
She also unpacks the future of AI and infrastructure in programmatic advertising, the myth of limitless supply, and the power of believing you belong in every room.
00:44 Amanda’s Path from The New York Times to OpenX
05:17 Leadership and Accountability in Action
07:11 Diversity and Belonging in Ad Tech
11:26 Leading Innovation at OpenX
15:37 Sustainability and Ethical Leadership
17:43 Balancing Agility with Responsibility
18:28 Permission to Pay: Ethical Dilemmas in Ad Tech
21:00 Supply-Side Targeting and Market Education
22:53 AI’s Impact on Programmatic Advertising
30:25 Mentorship and Leaving Ad Tech Better Than You Found It
Nolan Johnson, SVP of Media Partnerships at Grocery TV has helped turn grocery stores into one of advertising’s most powerful new frontiers. In this episode, he shares how leading with curiosity and courage helped him scale a startup into a national network, why 85% of grocery purchases still happen in-store, and what it takes to build both a category and a culture from the ground up.
03:19 The Importance of Taking Initiative
04:42 Advice for Early Career Professionals
06:47 Grocery TV: Leading in Digital Out-of-Home Media
10:23 Navigating Advertising Ecosystems and Measurement
12:53 The People Behind Grocery TV's Success
14:08 Hiring Entrepreneurial Talent
14:52 Balancing Agility and Focus
16:16 Building a Market from Scratch
17:27 Driving Innovation in Leadership
21:37 Challenges of Leading a Unique Market
25:32 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership
28:41 Legacy and Mentorship
Priti Ohri, CEO of Advertible, has built her career, and her company, on one principle: do the right thing, even when it’s hard. In this episode, she shares how authenticity and values drive better business, why trust matters more than speed, and how she’s redefining leadership in the fast-moving world of ad tech.
Links from this episode:
Fast Company: The Brand Called You
00:28 Meet Priti Ohri: CEO at Advertible
02:33 Insights on Leadership and Career Growth
08:46 Building and Leading Advertible
13:53 Challenges and Responsibilities in Native Advertising
19:31 Values and Decision-Making at Advertible
21:30 The Importance of Values in Business
22:43 Navigating Customer Expectations
24:34 Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion
27:41 Building a Supportive Community
30:28 Leadership and Personal Branding
32:40 The Future of Leadership and Industry
Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, a leading independent advertising agency, joins us to discuss leadership in a rapidly evolving industry. Scott shares insights on Butler/Till's unique Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) model, fostering transparency and engagement, and creating a results driven culture where everyone feels invested in the company's success. The conversation delves into Scott's career journey, the impact of intellectual curiosity, and the importance of aligning strategy with core business values. Scott also highlights the balance of consensus decision-making and long-term vision in leadership.
01:19 Scott's Career Journey
06:31 Advice and Leadership Insights
08:51 Butler Till's Unique Culture
09:46 Employee Ownership and Its Impact
14:49 Challenges and Benefits of the ESOP Structure
23:31 Leadership Decisions and Strategy
34:55 Future Vision and Legacy
Veteran adtech reporter Ronan Shields from Digiday joins Greg MacDonald and Geoff Wolinetz to explore leadership in advertising, media, and technology. The conversation covers Ronan's career journey as a journalist across three continents, insights on the relationship between media and industry figures, and the essential role of fact-checking in digital journalism. Ronan also talks about the potential benefits and challenges posed by AI in journalism.
01:00 Ronan's Global Journey in Journalism
01:45 Navigating Media and Industry Dynamics
05:59 The Role of Journalism in Shaping Leadership
09:12 Engagement and Storytelling in Journalism
12:44 Notable Leaders in Media and Tech
15:26 The Role of Fact-Checking in Digital Media
17:22 The Influence of Corporate Communications
21:01 The Impact of AI on Journalism
22:29 Leadership Trends in the Media Industry
23:59 The Role of CEOs in Shaping Company Culture
This episode was recorded at Podstream Studios in New York City.
Leadership isn’t about titles — it’s choices, lessons, and turning points.
Leadership In is a 10-episode series hosted by adtech industry veterans and consultants Greg MacDonald and Geoff Wolinetz, featuring candid conversations with senior leaders in advertising, media, and tech.
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