Episode 45 with special guest Alena Morris Alena Morris is the Associate Vice President, Product Marketing at PubMatic In this episode, Alena Morris reflects on her journey as a leader and manager, highlighting the significant role that empowerment and trust have played in her career. She discusses how the leadership at her company has not only empowered her but also encouraged innovation and personal growth. Alena emphasizes how she strives to emulate this approach in her own leadership style, focusing on fostering an environment where people are encouraged to learn, grow, and innovate. Join us as Alena shares valuable insights on leadership and the importance of empowering your team. Thank you to Liveintent for sponsoring this episode. Takeaways Building a strong network of advocates and supporters is crucial for career growth in the ad tech industry.Attending networking events can provide valuable opportunities to meet new people and expand your professional connections.The industry is moving towards the consolidation of the programmatic supply chain, bringing buyers and sellers closer together.Higher standards for data usage and privacy are expected, both from consumers and businesses.There is a growing intersection between ad tech and traditional Hollywood content creation, presenting new opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background07:43 Getting into the Ad Tech Industry12:13 Flipping Between Publisher and Buy Side14:08 The Impact of Google's Cookie Policy18:35 The Future of the Industry24:52 The Importance of Networking28:57 Advice for Early Career Professionals