The digital industry’s not really about technology, it’s about people. The digital economy is supported by technology but is conceived, created and developed by people, the heroes of digital.
But who are their heroes? Who inspired, supported and taught them along their journey and to become digital heroes?
We want to find out. So, we’re asking some of our industry’s leading figures to nominate their digital hero and to explain what’s so special about them.
Cadi Jones, Commercial Director EMEA, Beeswax, is an inspirational force for good in the digital industry. She co-founded WomenPresent, a platform to help event organisers find expert women speakers and is head of partnerships at Bloom, the network for women in communications.
Who is your digital hero?
There are many great folks who I look up to in digital – who have inspired me in my career. But in the number 1 spot is Dora Michail, Managing Director, Commercial Growth at Telegraph Media Group.
Dora is my hero for her work in simplifying what otherwise comes across as a complex and intimidating industry. As programmatic continues to become the mainstream method for transacting digital media and an increasingly crucial revenue channel for brands, we all need to learn how to communicate it in a more digestible fashion.
How has their heroism helped drive digital?
In the last two years at the Telegraph, as MD of Commercial Growth, Dora has been responsible for turning the company vision of serving 10M registrants and 1 million subscribers into opportunities for monetisation and revenue growth through digital innovation.
Her expertise and experience have allowed her to focus on transformative commercial strategies and she continues to pursue emerging opportunities in automation, data and platforms.
Under Dora’s leadership, The Telegraph became a founding partner of digital newsbrand advertising venture, The Ozone Project. The project is an example of unprecedented publisher collaboration and pioneering digital technology.
What is the biggest challenge in digital we need another hero to solve?
With the growth of all things programmatic, we’ve reached a point in the digital advertising change that requires real change. The majority of brands today are relying on media buying technology that was built decades ago, during a time when marketer involvement in programmatic activities was minimal at most.
But the consequence today is that these technologies are limited in terms of offering marketers — now demanding more involvement — the transparency, control and flexibility they’re looking for and need to gain a competitive edge in their digital advertising efforts.
As brands continue to demand more ownership over their programmatic strategies, looking to understand how their message can be heard amid all the noise, how they can stand out from their competition, I think we’re going to begin to see new heroes emerge in terms of technology. We’ll see new companies appear to empower today’s marketers and brands by providing those three key features — transparency, control, and flexibility – which are lacking from the majority of current media buying platforms.
What is your most heroic personal achievement so far in digital?
Making the move to join Beeswax was a huge achievement for me, as taking a huge jump to join a start up from a thriving, scaled business [Clear Channel] is always a leap of faith. Five months in, and I’m really pleased I leapt, as I’m helping to build a brilliant business that aligns with my personal values.
I’m excited to be bringing a fairer, more transparent and more customisable platform to brands and media companies alike – and leading the evolution of the industry.
