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In this episode of Life in Digital, host Ed Steer is joined by Rob Hall, Founder of Parallel and previously Founder of Playground xyz, to explore how AI and digital twins could change the way advertisers understand their audiences. Rob introduces customer suitability, explaining how it goes beyond traditional brand safety and suitability to help brands connect with people in more meaningful ways. They also unpack resonance, why it matters to advertisers, and how understanding what genuinely connects with an audience can lead to more relevant advertising. The conversation dives into how digital twins of customers work, the simulations Parallel runs, and where this technology has already demonstrated value. Ed and Rob explore how this approach differs from contextual targeting, where it can add the most value across planning and activation, and how simulating people could make advertising more human rather than more automated. Rob also shares Parallel’s plans for growth and his vision for the future of audience intelligence. 🎧 Tune in to discover how digital twins could help advertisers move beyond targeting profiles to better understand the people behind them.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Ryan Stewart is joined by Alasdair Cross, VP of Sales at ROQAD, for a look at the forces shaping the future of AdTech. Drawing on nearly three decades in the industry, Alasdair reflects on what has kept digital advertising evolving and where the industry sits in its latest wave of disruption. The conversation explores the future of the Open Web as walled gardens continue to grow, whether AdTech has a trust and reputation problem, and what the industry must do to improve transparency and become a force for good. Ryan and Alasdair also discuss the human qualities needed to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape, from adapting to disruption to recognising where the next big opportunities lie. Looking ahead, Alasdair shares his predictions for the next major shift in digital advertising, what businesses should be doing to prepare, and the opportunities he would be most excited about if he were starting his career in AdTech today. Tune in for a conversation on industry disruption, rebuilding trust and what it will take to shape the next era of AdTech!

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Ryan Stewart is joined by Alex Heng, Director of Demand Strategy & Partnerships at BRAVE, to explore the forces reshaping today's programmatic ecosystem. Alex shares his career journey and explains BRAVE's role in the supply chain as buyers and sellers navigate an increasingly complex market. The conversation dives into traffic shaping, why Supply Path Optimisation hasn't fully solved fragmentation, and how advertisers can find opportunities within an increasingly diverse ecosystem. Ryan and Alex also unpack the rise of curation as a go-to-market strategy for SSPs, the future of identity as privacy expectations evolve, and why bid fidelity is becoming increasingly important for campaign performance and supply chain efficiency. Looking ahead, Alex shares his perspective on where programmatic is heading over the next three to five years, the role BRAVE hopes to play in that evolution, and the developments he's most excited to see. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation on smarter supply, evolving programmatic strategies and the future of the digital advertising ecosystem.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Holly Simpson is joined by Gareth Clark, Managing Director at Gilroy, to explore how B2B marketing is evolving in the age of AI. Gareth shares his career journey and why developing the next generation of B2B marketers is becoming increasingly important as the skills, expectations and demands of the industry continue to change. The conversation explores how agencies and brands can better identify and develop future leaders, why agencies need to rethink their role in an AI-driven world, and the value of building a connected ecosystem rather than trying to do everything in-house. Holly and Gareth also discuss how changing search behaviour is reshaping brand discoverability, from traditional search engines to LLMs, and the practical steps marketers can take to ensure their brands are found. Looking ahead, Gareth shares his perspective on what makes a connected buying experience, why it can give B2B brands a competitive advantage, and the traits that will define successful organisations over the next five years. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation on the future of B2B marketing, AI-powered discoverability and building brands and teams ready for what comes next.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Daniel Bolter is joined by Kurt Donnell, CEO of Freestar, to explore the changing landscape for digital publishers and what it will take to build a healthier publisher ecosystem in the age of AI. Kurt reflects on Freestar's journey over the past decade and how its publisher-first approach has evolved as the industry has become increasingly complex. The conversation dives into pubOS, Freestar's new publisher operating system, and the challenge of bringing fragmented monetisation tools together. Daniel and Kurt also unpack what real value looks like from a monetisation partner, the industry's growing flight to quality, and whether advertisers are being too cautious when it comes to brand safety and premium inventory. AI is another major focus, from the danger of accelerating inefficient processes to the impact AI-driven discovery is having on publisher traffic. Kurt shares what he believes publishers are getting wrong about the current shift, how Freestar is helping partners navigate it, and what a healthy publishing ecosystem could look like over the next year. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation on publisher monetisation, AI, quality media and what comes next for the open web.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Jenny Dunford is joined by Josephine Phipps, CEO of Illuminate Digital, to explore what it really takes to drive ecommerce growth in an increasingly challenging market. Josephine shares her career journey and insights from leading an agency working with brands across creative, media and performance marketing. The conversation dives into the growing pressure for brands to produce more creative in response to AI-driven platforms like Meta's Andromeda, and why volume shouldn't come at the expense of quality or originality. Jenny and Josephine also explore the evolving role of influencer content, the rising cost of customer acquisition, and the risks of relying too heavily on automated media buying. They also unpack one of marketing's biggest challenges: measurement. Josephine explains why platform-reported ROAS doesn't always tell the full story, and how approaches such as incrementality testing and Marketing Mix Modelling can help brands understand what's really driving growth. Finally, she looks ahead at what will separate the ecommerce brands that thrive from those that struggle in the years ahead. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation on smarter growth, better measurement and navigating the new realities of ecommerce marketing.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Daniel Bolter is joined by Jen Starr, Director of North America at Strava for Business, to explore how brands can build meaningful connections through community. Drawing on her experience across BuzzFeed, Nextdoor and Strava, Jen shares how her approach to community has evolved and what makes Strava’s active audience such a unique opportunity for advertisers. The conversation explores how Strava is opening up new opportunities for brand partnerships, from creating campaigns that resonate with its community to turning everyday movement into meaningful engagement. Jen shares what makes a successful sponsored challenge, how brands can become part of people’s routines rather than interrupt them, and which industries are finding new opportunities on the platform. Daniel and Jen also discuss the lessons that have shaped her leadership approach, the importance of community in the fitness and wellness space, and what the future holds for brands looking to connect with audiences through shared passions. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation about community-led marketing, creative brand partnerships and the power of connecting with people through what they love.

In this episode of The She Suite, host Sonia Atwal is joined by Hester Bates, CMO at True Rights, to explore her career journey from being Influencer’s first employee to becoming a CMO and leading marketing at True Rights. Hester reflects on how growing with a business from its earliest stages shaped her approach to leadership, as well as the lessons she has carried throughout her career. Hester shares what she has learned from both being mentored and mentoring others through initiatives such as Girls in Marketing, the advice that has stayed with her, and why some of her most influential managers have been men. Sonia and Hester also discuss what meaningful allyship looks like in practice and how leaders can better support and champion women in the workplace. The conversation also explores Hester’s experience as a female leader at board level, the progress still needed around representation and inclusion, and the advice she wishes she could give her younger self. Tune in for an honest conversation about mentorship, allyship and what it really means to build a career and lead with purpose.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Daniel Bolter is joined by Stacey Bohrer, SVP Global Buyer Development at OpenX, to explore how programmatic is evolving around the needs of modern media buyers. Stacey shares her perspective on OpenX today, the changing expectations of buyers and partners, and the challenges facing the industry as technology continues to move at pace. The conversation dives into OpenXBuild and OpenX IQ, exploring how OpenX is developing new tools to help buyers make smarter decisions and navigate an increasingly complex programmatic landscape. Daniel and Stacey also unpack where AI is delivering genuine value for media buyers, where the industry may be getting ahead of itself, and what buyers are really looking for from their technology partners. Stacey also shares her approach to leadership and building high-performing teams in a fast-moving industry, before looking ahead to what she hopes will change across OpenX, its customers and the wider programmatic ecosystem over the next year. Tune in for a conversation on smarter buying, practical AI and the future of programmatic.

In this episode of The She Suite, host Sonia Atwal is joined by Lauren Berkemeyer, CMO at YuLife, for a conversation about building a career without following a traditional path. Lauren reflects on her journey across high-growth brands, startups and scale-ups, sharing what has guided her decisions and why embracing a “squiggly career” has opened up unexpected opportunities. Lauren also discusses making the move from New York to London, building a career in a new market and the lessons she’s learned from working in entrepreneurial environments. The conversation explores the challenges of taking brands international, adapting to fast-growth environments and building marketing strategies that can scale. Sonia and Lauren also dive into female leadership, navigating moments that challenge your confidence and what effective leadership looks like today. Lauren shares advice for anyone considering a less obvious career path, taking risks and making choices that could shape their next chapter. Tune in for an honest conversation about career curves, taking risks and finding your own path to leadership!

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Daniel Bolter is joined by Violaine Cabrol, US Managing Director at Soundcast, to explore the evolution of digital audio and the opportunities shaping the next era of programmatic advertising. Violaine shares her career journey into AdTech and audio, as well as how SoundCast is helping publishers and advertisers navigate the unique challenges of the audio ecosystem. The conversation explores the changing SSP landscape, the shift from buying on pure scale and reach towards quality, curation and intent, and why audio requires a different approach to technology and measurement. Daniel and Violaine also discuss the differences between the US and European markets, the importance of local insight when scaling internationally, and why high-touch client service remains central to Soundcast's approach. They also dive into the role of AI in audio advertising, from automating processes and identifying patterns to why human judgement and relationships still matter. Finally, Violaine looks at the growth of digital audio, the challenges around fragmentation and measurement, and what needs to happen for the channel to realise its full potential. Tune in now for a conversation on the evolution of digital audio, smarter programmatic buying and what comes next for the industry!

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Marnie Senior is joined by Michael Isaacs-Olaye, VP of Sales & Partnerships at happydemics to explore how marketing measurement is evolving in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. Michael shares his career journey and the work Happydemics is doing to help marketers understand campaign effectiveness across channels, audiences and markets. The conversation explores the challenges of omnichannel measurement, the importance of measuring campaigns at scale, and whether the industry is moving towards a more unified view of performance. Marnie and Michael also discuss where AI is delivering genuine value in measurement and insights, the lessons Happydemics has learned from international expansion, and how marketers can balance global consistency with local audience understanding. Looking ahead, Michael shares his perspective on the next three to five years of marketing measurement and the key things marketers should be doing now to prepare for what comes next. Tune in for a conversation on smarter measurement, practical AI and the future of omnichannel marketing.

In this episode of The She Suite, host Sonia Atwal is joined by Hannah Baker, CMO of Brave Bison, for an honest conversation about career growth, taking risks, and building a career around opportunity. Hannah reflects on making an international move early in her career, the decisions that accelerated her progression, and the mindset and skills that have helped her rise through the ranks. The conversation also explores Hannah’s experience marketing multiple agencies within a growing group, from building distinct identities to repositioning acquired businesses for growth. Sonia and Hannah discuss the realities of balancing high levels of professional responsibility with major personal milestones, the lessons that come from operating at pace, and why taking calculated risks can be so important early in your career. Tune in for an honest look at fast-tracking your career, embracing opportunity, and navigating the highs and challenges that come with it.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Holly Simpson is joined by Ben Foster, COO at The Kite Factory, to explore how technology is reshaping the modern media agency. Ben shares his career journey and the thinking behind The Kite Factory’s investment in proprietary tools, including how they were built to solve real operational and client challenges and how they’re changing the way teams work day-to-day. The conversation also looks at how agency expectations are evolving, from changing client demands and new hybrid skill sets to the growing pressure around new business pitches. Holly and Ben discuss whether the traditional pitching model is still fit for purpose and what the agencies that succeed in the next era of media and marketing will need to do differently. Tune in to stay up to date about how technology is being used to power today’s leading agencies.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Ryan Stewart is joined by Rhys Denny, Co-Founder of @‌curate, to unpack why programmatic advertising has become so complex, and what the industry can do to rebuild trust, transparency, and efficiency. Rhys shares the story behind @‌curate, the thinking that inspired its creation, and how products like Wanda are helping media teams reduce operational friction, improve decision-making, and make AI work for them, not against them. Together, Ryan and Rhys explore the realities of modern media buying, from increasing pressure on traders and agencies to the growing demand for genuine transparency across the ecosystem. They discuss the future of programmatic, where AI is delivering real value beyond the hype, and what a healthier, more sustainable advertising landscape could look like for brands, agencies, and the people behind the campaigns. Tune in to discover technology and a mission for rebuilding trust, helping shape a more transparent future in AdTech