When it comes to programmatic media, I do consider myself to be one of the OGs. For context, some history:

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After the world wide web exploded, a boom in multiplying web domains and internet content created a vast new source of digital advertising inventory. This source of ad inventory was highly desirable to both marketers and web publishers alike; a major challenge however was in the ability to effectively transact. Over time, as a solution to enable marketers to buy digital ads at scale, companies called ad networks came into existence. While ad networks filled a need, they also created a lot of problems.

 

It was not uncommon for media buyers to be faced with insufficient transparency across most (if not all) critically important aspects of a media buy. Buyers also typically had no transparency into the variable cost of an ad impression making it easy for some ad networks to bundle low quality supply together and sell it at dishonest premiums. The industry needed to evolve.

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A powerful turning point later arrived in the digital ad world with the introduction of technologies called ad exchanges (AEs) and demand side platforms (DSPs). An AE is a marketplace where digital ad space can be bought in real-time via bidded auctions (RTB). These ad trades are executed in a software called demand side platforms (DSPs). DSPs centralize the many technical complexities of the digital buying process and are built with machine learning algorithms to systematically optimize media.

 

Using a DSP to execute an RTB buy enables a marketing technique known as addressable media; the targeting of unique audiences with personalized ad experiences. Bidders built into DSPs can be programmed to execute billions of complex ad trades in less then a millisecond while simultaneously valuing conversion propensity so that the right ad, can be placed in front of the right user, at the right time, for the best price. 

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To meet demand and best service clients, many advertising agencies during this time created centralized programmatic hubs. Programmatic buying is different then traditional media buying in that it necessitates a robust technical infrastructure and complex activation processes.

 

Publicis Groupe (one of the largest advertising agencies in the world) formed the first ever knowledge center of this kind called VivaKi. It is here and at Havas Media (another large global ad agency) where I had the great privilege to hone my programmatic expertise. At VivaKi, I was the first programmatic media planner hired in Chicago. At Havas, I was brought on to start up the Chicago operation of its programmatic hub which now functions as Havas' North American trading headquarters.

 

While working and then later on becoming an entrepreneur (New Breed Athlete® and Mufasa Media®), I also earned my Master's in Business Administration and certification in front and backend web development.

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I am a visionary. I am an analyst, a designer and an optimization engineer. And I execute effective media experiences that always deliver.