The Ad Podcast

Sarah Boyd is a marketing executive and entrepreneur best known as Co-CEO and CRO of The Digital Dept., a leading influencer marketing and talent management firm. She originally founded Simply Stylist, a fashion and lifestyle platform that grew into a major conference series and digital network connecting creators, brands, and media. With a background in fashion PR, she’s built a reputation as a “connector” in the creator economy, representing top-tier talent and advising brands on influencer strategy. Boyd has been named a Forbes “Female Founder to Watch” and has contributed to Forbes on fashion and beauty trends.

Myriah Castillo is a social media strategist and marketing executive, currently serving as President of Joybyte, one of the fastest-growing influencer-led social marketing agencies in the U.S. She played a key role in scaling the agency’s growth—helping drive major client partnerships and building innovative strategies across platforms like TikTok and TikTok Shop. With a background in creative writing and over a decade of experience in social and influencer marketing, Castillo has built her reputation on blending creative risk-taking with performance-driven strategy. Before rising through the ranks at Joybyte, she also founded her own consumer brand, giving her a hands-on understanding of building businesses through social-first growth. She’s known for pushing brands beyond traditional playbooks—championing culturally relevant, platform-native content and helping shape how modern influencer marketing actually drives revenue.

Bryan Stewart is the Chief of Marketing and External Relations at Goodwill of Southern Nevada (GoodwillVegas.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to workforce development, job training, and community support through retail operations and programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment (often summarized as "saving the waste in people and things").He joined the organization in late 2021 (initially as Vice President of Marketing and Communications) and has since led major initiatives including:Launching the “Goodwill Works” brand platform and guidelines.Building in-house creative/publication services, standard signage, and multi-channel campaigns.Orchestrating the organization's 50th anniversary celebration.Creating internal programs like awards/recognition, customer compliments portal, leadership development fellowship, and an in-store fundraising initiative supporting local nonprofits.

Rob Dawson is the Chief Strategy Officer at Creator.co, a Vancouver, Canada-based all-in-one influencer marketing platform (founded in 2016) that connects brands with creators for authentic collaborations, campaign management, performance tracking, and AI-powered tools like their "London" AI agent for matching, outreach, and scaling campaigns.In his role, he leads corporate strategy, growth initiatives, strategic partnerships, and the push toward AI-powered creator commerce—helping brands discover fitting creators, automate workflows, and drive measurable ROI in the creator economy. With over 25 years of experience in digital transformation, innovation, and scaling businesses, he's positioned at the forefront of bridging brands and creators through data-driven, authentic partnerships.

Mark Connon is a seasoned executive in the adtech, martech, and data industry, currently serving as CEO of Bombora, a leading provider of B2B intent data and audience solutions that helps marketers identify in-market buyers through aggregated, privacy-compliant signals from publisher content consumption.He joined Bombora as President in May 2023 and assumed the CEO role around mid-2024, succeeding founder Erik Matlick. Under his leadership, the company focuses on open B2B ecosystems, bridging B2B and B2C-style targeting precision, combating data fragmentation, and enabling actionable, high-precision audiences for performance marketing and sales alignment.His career includes key roles such as:Chief Operating Officer at TapAd (acquired by Experian in 2020), transitioning to General Manager and EVP of Product and Marketing for Experian Marketing Services.SVP and Global Chief Mobile and Data Officer at AOL (later Verizon Media), where he led mobile advertising, data strategy, and enterprise data commercialization.Various C-level positions at public and private marketing/advertising companies.A business strategist and entrepreneur, he serves as an advisor or board member for multiple ad/martech firms. He's a frequent speaker and contributor on topics like intent data, B2B targeting evolution, privacy-compliant innovation, and the future of open data ecosystems (e.g., podcasts like The Agile Brand, op-eds in The Current, and interviews in SalesTechStar).Based in New York, he's active on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/markconnon) and recognized for his expertise in scaling data-driven marketing solutions.

Ajay Gupta is the Founder and CEO of Stirista (often phonetically similar to "Sistra" in queries), a San Antonio, Texas-based data-driven marketing and identity solutions company specializing in combining identity-level data, email marketing, digital execution (including DSP ownership), and multichannel campaigns to help brands and agencies acquire, activate, and retain customers.He founded Stirista in 2009/2010 at age 26, starting as a two-person operation in a small San Francisco apartment without external funding. Under his leadership, it has grown rapidly into a full-service provider serving Fortune 500 companies, agencies, and SMBs—expanding to nearly 100 employees across three continents, earning spots on the Inc. 5000 list (fastest-growing private companies), Ad Age's Best Places to Work, DMA awards (e.g., Silver ECHO for Best Retail Campaign), and other recognitions.Gupta is a thought leader in performance marketing, personalized campaigns, data transparency, email/bot fraud prevention, and blending data with storytelling. He's a Forbes Agency Council member, International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) inductee, judge for industry awards, former San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and Marketing EDGE Rising Star. He contributes articles to publications like Ad Age and appears on podcasts/radio.Born and raised in a small city in India (no phone until age 12), he holds a degree from Texas State University, is bilingual (English/Hindi), and is based in San Antonio. He's active on X as @realAjayGupta, sharing marketing insights and company updates.

Domenic Venuto is a prominent executive in the advertising and media technology space, currently serving as EVP and Chief Product & Data Officer at Horizon Media, one of the world's largest independent media agencies (based in New York).In this role (appointed in late 2024), he oversees enterprise-wide product, data, and AI strategy, driving innovation through Horizon's AI-native Blue Platform—which integrates data analytics, audience planning, measurement, and marketing to deliver transparent, trustworthy AI solutions for clients. He emphasizes avoiding "tech debt," prioritizing trust as the new currency in an AI-driven advertising world, and using first-party data enrichment to enhance brand-consumer relationships without black-box opacity.His career spans cross-disciplinary experience in product development, data analytics, client services, ad tech, and investment banking. Before Horizon, he held leadership roles including at Progress Partners (a merchant bank focused on tech and media M&A, capital raising, and advisory), and earlier positions in agencies and publishers. He's recognized as a thought leader on ethical AI innovation, interconnectivity in advertising, and evolving marketing beyond traditional broadcasting.Venuto is a frequent speaker at industry events like CES (2025/2026), Advertising Week, and podcasts/interviews (e.g., with Beet.TV, Teads, Marketecture, and others), where he discusses topics like trustworthy data over flashy AI demos, brand trust in media, and AI's role in rewriting agency-client dynamics.He is active on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/dvenuto) and Instagram (@aussiedish), sharing insights on media, tech, and personal interests. Based in New York/Brooklyn.

George Baker (often referred to as George Baker, Sr.) is an award-winning American entrepreneur, innovator, investor, and mentor based in Dallas, Texas. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of 2 the Moon Ventures, an investment vehicle he established to back early-stage companies and high-impact founders, particularly those needing an extra "boost" to scale—drawing from the playful "one small step" to greatness theme. His investments leverage expertise in parking management, SaaS platforms, technology, commercial real estate, and extend to sectors like apparel, food & beverage, sports & entertainment, and the outdoors.He is best known as the Founder (and former CEO/Chairman) of ParkHub, a leading parking technology company he built starting around 2010. ParkHub provides integrated parking management solutions, contactless payments, data analytics, and operations optimization—serving major sports leagues, venues, and commercial clients. Under his leadership, it grew into a multimillion-dollar (reportedly $100M+ valuation) global player, earning him recognitions like EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest finalist (2023) and Forbes Business Council membership. He holds five patents in parking, sports, and entertainment tech.A servant leader focused on team-first culture, MVP thinking, agile innovation, and community impact, he serves on boards including Engage Dallas, Texas Discovery Gardens, and the Alliance for Parking Industry Data Standards. He lives in Dallas with his wife Chelsey and children George II and Kuper.

Nikos Iatropoulos is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. He currently serves as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at IA Global Ventures, a fund focused on supporting foreign-born founders and early-stage tech startups, where he leads investment strategy and operations.His career includes roles such as:Managing Partner of Rex Tech Ventures (joined in 2022).Regional Partner and Head of Operations at Kairos Ventures (joined in 2017).Co-founder and CEO of Lingospot, an enterprise software company.With a background as a software entrepreneur spanning over 16 years, he has experience mentoring and advising early-stage companies. He is active in the Texas tech ecosystem, particularly Austin's growing venture scene, and has investments in areas like tech, biotech, and hardware (e.g., MixComm, Actinobac Biomed, Tanvas). He holds certifications in Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy, among others.He is active on X as @iatropoulos and frequently comments on Austin's tech growth, venture capital trends, and opportunities outside Silicon Valley.

Sanjoy Paul is an Indian-American computer scientist, engineer, and innovation leader (born January 22, 1962). He currently serves as Executive Director of Rice Nexus (Rice University's premier innovation and prototyping hub) and AI Houston, as well as Associate Vice President for Technology Development at Rice University, where he also lectures in Computer Science.He is a Fellow of the IEEE (FIEEE) and was recently elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (FNAI) in 2025 for his contributions to AI, IoT, and related technologies. With 95 patents to his name, his work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence/machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), computer networking, 5G, and extended reality (XR) to create intelligent systems for industries like healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and space.His career includes senior roles such as Managing Director at Accenture Technology Labs (leading R&D in robotics, 5G, digital twins, and AI), Global Digital Head at Wipro, leadership positions at Infosys, Bell Labs, and as Founder/CEO of RelevantAd Technologies. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur (1985), a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland (1992), and an MBA from Wharton (2005).

Sarah Romanko is a venture capital investor and startup ecosystem leader based in the United States. She serves as an Associate at Geek Ventures, where she focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and supporting early-stage technology startups, particularly those founded by immigrants in the U.S. Romanko has experience working with several venture capital firms and startups, including companies such as Bulletpitch and WingDriver (Techstars ’23), giving her a blend of venture investing and startup-operations expertise. She is active in the broader startup and venture capital community as a speaker, mentor, and startup judge, having participated in dozens of speaking engagements and mentorship sessions with organizations such as Startup Grind, Founder Institute, and major university programs. Romanko is also involved in venture and innovation events, serving in leadership roles such as Chief of Staff for the Texas Venture Gala & Forum and Texas Venture Fest, and evaluating startup panels for conferences including SXSW.

Neal Bloom is a San Diego-based venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder in the tech and startup space. A Southern California native, he studied mechanical engineering at UC San Diego (UCSD) and early in his career worked with NASA on the Space Shuttle Main Engines and aspects of the Artemis program.He co-founded the edtech startup Portfolium, which was acquired by Instructure. This experience transitioned him into angel investing, where he built strong networks in the San Diego tech community. He has been involved with Tech Coast Angels and co-founded an angel syndicate.Currently, Neal serves as Managing Partner (or General Partner) at Rising Tide Partners, an early-stage investment group focused on curating signal in the noise to back exceptional founders, particularly in innovative tech solving real-world problems. He previously held a similar role as co-founder and Managing Partner at Interlock Capital, an early-stage fund and community of experienced operators.With nearly 20 years in tech, he's passionate about fostering startup ecosystems—advising on community building, events, and public outreach. He runs the Rising Tide Partners Substack (covering tech trends, AI, hard tech, and San Diego venture insights), hosts or contributes to podcasts/talks (e.g., Tacos and Tech), and is active in San Diego's startup scene through groups like Startup San Diego (where he's held leadership roles in sponsorships and partnerships).He's a frequent speaker, LinkedIn thought leader (15K+ followers), and connector in areas like AI for Main Street businesses, hard tech, and regional innovation hubs. Neal has appeared on podcasts and at events like TechCon Global discussing AI, investing, and ecosystem growth.

Susan Akbarpour is an Iranian-American serial entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and venture capitalist based in Silicon Valley. She began her career as an investigative journalist in Iran before immigrating to the United States in 1997. With over 30 years of experience building innovative products and businesses in technology, media, advertising, finance, retail, and more, she is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Mavatar Technologies (launched in 2011), a consumer-centric e-commerce platform focused on personalized shopping experiences and ending the "consumer as product" model in digital advertising. She holds an MS in Management (MSx '10) from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she founded the @Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowship to provide need-based scholarships for Farsi-speaking MBA, MSx, or PhD students. Thanks to Strike Social for sending me.

Scott Hess is a prominent executive in the advertising and media industry, currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Publicis Media (a division of Publicis Groupe), based in Chicago.He is a dynamic leader focused on branding, culture-building, human intelligence, and storytelling for people and brands. Hess has held key roles within the Publicis ecosystem, including CMO at Spark Foundry (a Publicis Media agency), EVP of Communications and Marketing at Publicis Media, and positions like Chief Work Officer and acting/interim CMO at Starcom. His background includes pioneering youth research as VP of Insights at TRU before transitioning to media agencies.Known as an expert on generational trends (especially Millennials and Gen Z/"Post Generation"), he is a frequent speaker, writer, and thought leader on topics like humanity in marketing, workplace joy, mentorship, and cultural cohesion across Publicis Media's network (including agencies like Starcom, Zenith, and Spark Foundry).Hess is also a poet, guitarist, and Miami University alum (B.A. in English/Creative Writing). He's been recognized as an Adweek Media All-Star and emphasizes mentorship and opportunity creation in advertising.

Alex "Fro" Frommeyer is an American entrepreneur and executive best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Beam Benefits (originally launched as Beam Dental/Beam Technologies). He started the company in 2012 with a background in engineering (educated at the University of Louisville), initially focusing on innovative dental insurance tied to smart toothbrush technology and rewards for healthy habits (like the Beam Perks program).Under his leadership, Beam evolved into a digitally native employee benefits provider, expanding to offer dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental health coverage. It modernized the ancillary benefits industry with an online platform, AI-powered tools, and incentives for wellness. The company raised significant funding (over $160–170 million reported in various rounds), grew to operate in dozens of U.S. states, and became a notable InsurTech player.He's been recognized on lists like Forbes 30 Under 30 (Manufacturing & Industry in 2015) and has appeared on podcasts and in media discussing disruption in insurance, startup culture, and building in Ohio (where Beam is based in Columbus).More recently, as of 2026 profiles, he's listed as the Founder and CEO of Stack Health, described as an operating system for personalized health plans to accelerate individualized coverage.He's commonly referred to as "Fro" in professional contexts and on social media (@AlexFrommeyer on X).

David Angelo is the Founder & Creative Chairman of David&Goliath, a Los Angeles-based advertising agency known for its challenger mindset and “Brave” philosophy. With a career spanning over three decades, Angelo has built award-winning work for major brands including KIA Motors, The Coca-Cola Company, Lexus, Michelin, Reebok and the National Football League (NFL), and has earned more than 500 industry honors, such as Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The One Show Pencils and The Clios. He’s an American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement inductee and a respected voice in creative leadership. In 2016, Angelo also founded Today, I'm Brave, a global nonprofit focused on empowering youth through courage and purpose.

Francesca Kennedy is a social entrepreneur, brand leader, and former fashion founder known for building purpose-driven businesses that blend design with social impact. She is the founder of Ix Style, a fashion and lifestyle brand that works with artisan makers in Guatemala to produce handmade goods while helping provide clean drinking water and economic opportunities for local communities — a mission inspired by her personal experiences growing up between the U.S. and Guatemala. Kennedy’s work with Ix Style has led to partnerships with major retailers and media exposure, including an appearance on Project Runway: Fashion Startup. More recently, she has led public relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives at retail network Shop LC, helping amplify impact programs such as Your Purchase Feeds, which has delivered millions of meals to children in need.

Falk Eumann is the Executive Vice President of Creative, North America at WongDoody (a global creative technology agency and Infosys company), based in New York City. An Executive Creative Director with over 15 years of international experience in digital, he blends technology, design, human-centered storytelling, and innovation to bring brands to life—focusing on purpose-driven work, next-gen tech (including AI & creativity), and immersive experiences.He joined WongDoody in 2025 as Executive Creative Director, North America, after roles like Creative Director at Monks (leading campaigns such as Dragonfly) and Founding Partner/Executive Creative Director at Caviar. Fluent in English and German, he's passionate about pushing creative boundaries, has spoken on AI in creativity (e.g., WongDoody's Creative AI initiatives), and is active in pitching ideas for events like SXSW 2026.

Crystal Foote is the Founder & CEO (also Head of Partnerships) of Digital Culture Group (DCG), an award-winning, Atlanta-based ad tech company she launched in 2023 as the industry's only Black- and woman-owned firm in the space. DCG bridges data and humanity through innovative audience targeting (e.g., her Audience Resonance Index™ or ARI), real-time cultural insights, and inclusive advertising—helping brands connect authentically with multicultural audiences beyond basic demographics.A trailblazing advertising executive and entrepreneur, she started her career in New York at agencies like MEC, RGA, and Publicis, then moved into tech at Exponential and Amobee before founding DCG with just $300. She's grown it rapidly (e.g., adding Fortune 500 clients like Jeep and McDonald's, 47% YoY growth), earned spots on Inc. Magazine's 2025 Female Founders 500 list and Ad Age's Leading Women 2025, and is a USBC Power 50 honoree.

Dan Fernandez is the Vice President of Digital Marketing and Strategy at Concord Hospitality Enterprises, a leading U.S. hotel management and development company.He's a recognized leader in digital marketing, branding, and hospitality strategy with over 15 years of experience in luxury and lifestyle segments. He has led high-performing teams at top agencies and shaped digital strategies for iconic properties like Hotel del Coronado, The Broadmoor, The Breakers Palm Beach, Rosewood Hotel Group, The Standard Hotels, and Montage International.Dan champions innovation, fosters passionate talent, and serves on marketing advisory boards for HSMAI, Hilton, and Marriott International. In 2025, he was honored as one of HSMAI's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds for pushing boundaries in digital engagement and hospitality marketing.He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Marketing from Florida Atlantic University.