Life in Digital

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Holly Simpson is joined by Paul Squirrell, Managing Director at The MISSION Group, to explore how the agency landscape is evolving and what the future holds for the industry. Drawing on three decades of experience, Paul shares his career journey and explains the role of MISSION Hubs in connecting an international network of agencies. He also discusses why international growth matters, whether agencies should be looking beyond their home markets, and how the traditional holding company model compares with the independent agency sector.

The conversation explores the importance of people strategy, how AI is changing the way agencies work and deliver value, and whether it will ultimately replace parts of the agency model. Holly and Paul also unpack the ongoing debate around agency fees and remuneration, and what businesses need to rethink as technology changes client expectations. Looking ahead, Paul reflects on the biggest shifts he has witnessed throughout his career and shares his outlook on what comes next for agencies.

Tune in for an honest look at the challenges and opportunities shaping the next generation of agencies, from global growth and talent to AI and the future of agency value.

In this episode of Life in Digital, host Ed Steer is joined by Arthur Larrey, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Audion, to explore the company's expansion into the US and the opportunities shaping the future of digital audio. Having built Audion across six European markets, Arthur reflects on what it takes to enter a new market, from adapting the business and securing investor backing to building a local team while maintaining what made the company successful in Europe.

The conversation also explores how Audion is using AI to raise the bar for audio advertising, why the channel has an opportunity to become a more measurable performance driver, and what the next three years could hold for the category. Arthur shares lessons from relocating to New York with his family, the realities of leading an international business through a major period of growth, and his advice for European founders looking to raise capital and make the move to America.

🎧 Tune in for a founder's perspective on crossing markets, scaling with purpose and unlocking audio's next chapter.

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.