We’re joined by Luke Taplin McCallum, Sales Director at TripleLift, to explore the transition from startup operator to scale-up leader.

Luke shares his journey building “zero-to-one” businesses, why joining a PE-backed company was a deliberate stretch, and the leadership shifts required when moving from speed and autonomy to structure and scale.

We discuss:• The difference between startup and enterprise environments• Letting go as a leader• Protecting focus in a distracted world• Using AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement• Aligning career decisions with your North Star

A thoughtful conversation on growth, leadership, and building a meaningful career in adtech.

00:00 Introduction to AdTech Connect

02:04 Defining Purpose in Advertising

06:03 Focus and Time Management Strategies

10:37 The Role of AI in Productivity

13:17 Building and Maintaining Relationships

17:50 Leadership Lessons from Influential Figures

24:10 Balancing Career and Personal Life

We are joined by the 2025 Ad Tech Rising star winner, Kamran Vahabi.

The episode is hosted by Matt Bennathan and Anya Libova

00:00 Introduction to AdTech Connect

01:02 Personal Purpose and Relationships

06:20 Recognition and Authenticity in the Industry

09:21 Networking and Building Relationships

14:26 Balancing Empathy with Commercial Goals

19:22 Career Development and Future Aspirations

20:35 Leadership Qualities and Accountability

27:02 The Role of Women in Leadership

30:06 Personal Development and Future Goals

Nia shares how her experiences — from growing up in St. Lucia to working in London — fuel her mission to lead with empathy and elevate others.
She also drops wisdom on:⚖️ Balancing recognition with comfort zones🌟 Why mentorship doesn’t have to be formal to be impactful📈 The importance of diversity in senior leadership

Listen in for a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

She's joined by ATC'S very own Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research and Kiessé Lamour from VML.

We sit down with Emma Blackshaw from Sojern. She shares her journey from account management to shaping an entirely new role - built on curiosity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to simplifying the complex world of AdTech

She’s joined by ATC’s very own Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research and Kiessé Lamour from VML

This week we are joined by Annika Geiger, (former) Sales Lead at Magnite

00:00 Introduction to Ad Tech Connect Podcast

02:57 Finding Purpose in Ad Tech

06:34 Overcoming Challenges in Career Development

11:19 The Importance of Mentoring and Coaching

18:01 Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

24:54 Addressing Diversity in Ad Tech

This time, we spoke with Jasper from StackAdapt, who shared a thoughtful and honest look at his career journey — from his early days at MIQ to building commercial teams and shifting back into an IC role to focus on what drives him most.

He's joined from our weekly host, Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research alongisde, Donia Baddou also at Lumen.

00:00 Introduction to Adtech Connect Podcast

02:32 Finding Personal Purpose in Ad Tech

06:51 Career Progression and Ownership

12:32 The Importance of Authenticity in Career Choices

13:24 Managing Up: A Key Skill for Career Development

18:20 Navigating Career Moves: The Squiggly Career

25:11 Industry Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration

29:07 Ad Tech's Evolving Work Culture and Talent Retention

This week we are joined by Babajide Sotande-Peters, Senior Manager, Global Programmatic & Innovation at TeamX (Omnicom).

He's joined by our weekly host, Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research alongside Amy Combrinck at Fireflying.

00:05 Introduction to AdTech Connect Podcast

02:29 Recognizing Emerging Leaders in AdTech

05:36 The Role of Ego and Confidence in Professional Growth

08:39 The Impact of Recognition on Career Aspirations

13:45 Navigating Ego and Leadership

15:42 Collaboration in Fast-Paced Environments

18:45 Confidence and Client Leadership

21:33 Learning from Experience: The 2024 Reflections

26:18 Pursuing Fulfillment in Career

29:36 The Balance of Drive and Contentment

34:48 Staying Present and Engaged

This week we are joined by Zoe Bruton, Director of Business Development, Agency & AdTech UK EU at AudioStack.

He's joined by our weekly host, Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research alongside Amy Combrinck at Fireflying.

00:00 Introduction to AdTech Connect and Community Engagement

05:28 Creating a Safe Space for Learning and Growth

08:00 Building Personal Brand and Confidence in Leadership

10:14 The Journey of Personal Growth Through Podcasting

12:12 Balancing Confidence and Arrogance in Leadership

17:53 Finding Purpose in Personal and Professional Life

20:10 Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Parent

24:52 The Importance of Transparency in the Industry

This week we have Cameron Armstrong, Product & Strategy Associate Director at Kinesso.

He’s joined by our weekly host, Matt Bennathan from Lumen Research alongside Cadi Jones from Index Exchange.

Will Spring, Director of Enterprise Sales at ID5, joins Matt Bennathan and Cadi Jones for the very first episode of the AdTech Connect podcast - excited to kick things off!