We think it’s time to recognise and celebrate the true talent in the digital media industry, the technologists, founders and leaders who are really driving our industry who just happen to be over 50. 50 over 50 is a series of interviews, with our most influential and inspiring industry leaders aged 50 and over.
With 25 years of experience in the advertising, media and technology sectors, Kelly focuses on the convergence of privacy and technology, the surrounding debate across advertising, media and digital and now works as Privacy Compliance Director and DPO for Blis.
What one thing are you proudest of in your career?
I am proud of pivoting in my 40s into a new and vastly different role. I’d spent the first 20 years of my career in planning and partnerships at agencies, Microsoft and the Guardian, but the introduction of GDPR became a turning point in my career. In 2018, I joined Unruly with no prior experience in privacy but leveraged my transferable skills and dedicated self-study to gain expertise. I went on to earn the CIPP/E and CIPM certifications, two of the industry’s most rigorous and respected credentials from the IAPP.
What heights are you now capable of that you wouldn’t have been able to achieve at the early or mid-point of your career?
Early in my career, I had little sense of my unique value or how to distinguish myself from others. It took time to learn how to build my own path to success—an insight that ultimately fuelled my growth at Blis, where I advanced from a temporary contractor in February 2021 to a seat on the Ops board as VP of Governance, Ethics & DPO.
I’m now able to achieve even more, thanks to transformative changes in how we work. Over the past three decades, the shift from landlines, desktops, and fax machines to laptops, mobiles, and flexible working hours has dramatically empowered caregivers and parents like myself. The flexibility to work from home and manage my hours has made a profound difference, one that would have been unimaginable when I started my career.
What gives you the most satisfaction in your role today?
I love the variety in my role—whether I’m shaping our ESG strategy, negotiating contracts, or staying ahead of the ever-evolving global data protection regulations. Yet, more than this I delight at being able to pass down my “wisdom” and encourage my team and mentees. I hope that others can learn from my experiences and, as my father used to say, “A wise person learns from others’ mistakes.”
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your career?
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to ask for what I want—no one’s a mind reader. Early in my career, I realized I no longer wanted to be a TV buyer, but I was too afraid to tell my employers. I naively believed that saying I wasn’t happy would stall any chances of progressing within the company. Instead, I spent two years searching for a media planner role at other agencies.
When I finally handed in my notice, I was called in by the remarkable Tess Alps, who asked why I was leaving. After I explained, she wished me well but added, “You should have just asked.” I had been working at PHD, an incredible agency and possibly the best environment for learning planning, yet my own fears and assumptions held me back from speaking up.
It’s taken time, but I’ve learned to ask for what I want at work, even though those “asks” often come with fear. In the end, if you’re the one not asking, you’re the one saying “no”—and only you have the power to change that
What advice would you give your 25 year-old self?
Apart from buying shares in Google and Facebook? I’d say ignore the old adage, “Be a good girl, work hard, and you will succeed.” This advice was given to me long before I started my career, but was so ingrained in my psyche, that it took many, many years of working to realise that it was wrong. Whilst it served me well in school during the 1980s and 90s, it didn’t translate to success in the workplace.
Yes, hard work is key —but if no one knows what you’re doing, and you don’t lift your head from your desk to look around, you miss out on a world of opportunity. I’ve learned that success often requires visibility, advocacy, and the courage to step forward, not just to work quietly in the background
Accept that you are the one in control of your destiny. No one is going to pull you up or move you forward in your career, no matter how clever you are. Build yourself a strong and supportive network and give back to them. It’s your network that will support you in times of need. Always keep learning. This industry is constantly evolving, and only those who are willing to learn and adapt will succeed. Advocate for yourself. Let people know what you are capable of, what you want, why you want it, and why you deserve it.
What is the biggest mistake companies are making in their attitude to age today?
The traditional career path was structured like a pyramid: you started at the bottom when you were young, reached the middle in your 30s, and a few progressed to the top. Today, the reality is that people are living longer and working longer, and this age-based pyramid no longer works. Further, many hiring managers still struggle to hire someone for a mid- or junior-level role if that person is older than them. Attitudes to age need to change.
I experienced this firsthand while job hunting after being made redundant at 47. I was turned down for being “not malleable enough,” with the employer explicitly saying they preferred a younger, less experienced candidate. In another interview, I was directly asked why someone my age would even want the role. These were clear instances of discrimination—comments spoken openly, not the subtler biases I might never hear about.
What is your biggest regret about the industry today?
The lack of diversity in our industry is always a constant concern for me. As a straight middle-class woman, I’m aware of my privilege and aim to use it to support others. Whether it’s using my voice here to talk about age discrimination, co-leading Bloom’s MPower, mentoring through Digilearning & Bloom, or representing Blis on the IAB’s UK DEI group, I’m committed to driving change. We can’t change the past; we can only change the future. At 51, some might consider me “old,” but I know I’ll still be working for many years – determined to be a change-maker, advocating for equity and offering my time and privilege to those who need it.
