Leadership In

What does it take to lead with high standards without playing scared? Greg and Geoff sit down with Pooja Midha, board member, advisor, and Executive-in-Residence (EIR) at LUMA Partners, and a leader who has run sales and operating businesses at Dow Jones, Viacom, Disney/ABC, true[X], and Comcast Advertising.The conversation explores how high standards, deep listening, and making others successful become the engine of leadership at scale. From opening doors as an unqualified intern to leading a 3,200-person transformation at Comcast, Pooja shares what it takes to drive change inside legacy businesses, why humanity and performance are the same thing, and the lesson her daughter taught her about taking smart risks and not playing scared.

Season 2 of Leadership In is here!Greg and Geoff preview what's ahead: new guests from industry giants and emerging adtech players, and a new rhythm of short and long episodes. What's new this season:A great lineup of new guests from industry giants and emerging playersAlternating episode formats: full-length feature interviews (~30 min) and shorter Open Exchange episodes (5–10 min) Now on YouTube, in addition to every major audio platformFollow on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts or visit us at www.leadershipinpodcast.com.

Greg and Geoff wrap up Season 1 of Leadership In reflecting on the themes, lessons, and leadership perspectives that emerged across eight episodes. They revisit the core questions asked of every guest, discuss what stood out across different leaders and backgrounds, and share their own views on authenticity, diversity of thought, incentives, AI, and the legacies leaders aim to leave behind.

Greg and Geoff sit down with GumGum’s Kerel Cooper (CMO) and Katy Loria (CRO) to discuss the importance of embracing vulnerabilities, managing personal brands, and the difference in dynamics between large and small organizations. The conversation delves into GumGum’s approach to contextual advertising, the role of consumer mindset in targeted ads, and how AI and machine learning influence their strategies. Link: Minority Report Podcast, co-hosted by Kerel Cooperhttps://www.minorityreportpodcast.com/01:45 Early Career Advice02:51 Personal Branding and Goal Setting05:44 Influential Leaders and Mentors08:58 Navigating Different Organizational Sizes11:36 GumGum12:45 Contextual Advertising and Mindset17:27 Balancing Leadership and Innovation18:33 AI and Human Touch in Customer Engagement21:29 Emotional Connection in Branding32:12 Looking Ahead

What if the key to better advertising isn’t more data, but more attention?Geoff and Greg sit down with Dave Jacobs, President and CEO of Receptiv, a company with a fresh take on driving performance by focusing on when people are most receptive.The conversation explores how leadership, focus, and accountability drive both innovation and impact in adtech. From leading teams at startups and global corporations, Dave shares how he’s scaling performance, culture, and outcomes, without losing sight of what matters most.Disclosure: Leadership In hosts and guests may hold financial interests in companies discussed in this episode, including Receptiv.

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 lessons03:17 Culture that drives growth 07:25 How TV Scientific redefines performance 09:14 Innovation in CTV11:25 The shift to outcome-based advertising18:25 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 OpenX05:17  Leadership and Accountability in Action07:11  Diversity and Belonging in Ad Tech11:26  Leading Innovation at OpenX15:37  Sustainability and Ethical Leadership17:43  Balancing Agility with Responsibility18:28  Permission to Pay: Ethical Dilemmas in Ad Tech21:00  Supply-Side Targeting and Market Education22:53  AI’s Impact on Programmatic Advertising30:25  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 Initiative04:42 Advice for Early Career Professionals06:47 Grocery TV: Leading in Digital Out-of-Home Media10:23 Navigating Advertising Ecosystems and Measurement12:53 The People Behind Grocery TV's Success14:08 Hiring Entrepreneurial Talent14:52 Balancing Agility and Focus16:16 Building a Market from Scratch17:27 Driving Innovation in Leadership21:37 Challenges of Leading a Unique Market25:32 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership28:41 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:DesiUS Fast Company: The Brand Called YouGeoff’s Substack00:28 Meet Priti Ohri: CEO at Advertible02:33 Insights on Leadership and Career Growth08:46 Building and Leading Advertible13:53 Challenges and Responsibilities in Native Advertising19:31 Values and Decision-Making at Advertible21:30 The Importance of Values in Business22:43 Navigating Customer Expectations24:34 Advocating for Diversity and Inclusion27:41 Building a Supportive Community30:28 Leadership and Personal Branding32:40 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 Journey06:31 Advice and Leadership Insights08:51 Butler Till's Unique Culture09:46 Employee Ownership and Its Impact14:49 Challenges and Benefits of the ESOP Structure23:31 Leadership Decisions and Strategy34:55 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 Journalism01:45 Navigating Media and Industry Dynamics05:59 The Role of Journalism in Shaping Leadership09:12 Engagement and Storytelling in Journalism12:44 Notable Leaders in Media and Tech15:26 The Role of Fact-Checking in Digital Media17:22 The Influence of Corporate Communications21:01 The Impact of AI on Journalism22:29 Leadership Trends in the Media Industry23:59 The Role of CEOs in Shaping Company CultureThis 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. Follow now to get the full episodes and join the conversation.