Greg and Geoff wrap up Season 1 of Leadership In reflecting on the themes, lessons, and leadership perspectives that emerged across eight episodes.

They revisit the core questions asked of every guest, discuss what stood out across different leaders and backgrounds, and share their own views on authenticity, diversity of thought, incentives, AI, and the legacies leaders aim to leave behind.

Greg and Geoff sit down with GumGum’s Kerel Cooper (CMO) and Katy Loria (CRO) to discuss the importance of embracing vulnerabilities, managing personal brands, and the difference in dynamics between large and small organizations. The conversation delves into GumGum’s approach to contextual advertising, the role of consumer mindset in targeted ads, and how AI and machine learning influence their strategies.

Link: Minority Report Podcast, co-hosted by Kerel Cooper

https://www.minorityreportpodcast.com/

01:45 Early Career Advice

02:51 Personal Branding and Goal Setting

05:44 Influential Leaders and Mentors

08:58 Navigating Different Organizational Sizes

11:36 GumGum

12:45 Contextual Advertising and Mindset

17:27 Balancing Leadership and Innovation

18:33 AI and Human Touch in Customer Engagement

21:29 Emotional Connection in Branding

32:12 Looking Ahead

What if the key to better advertising isn’t more data, but more attention?

Geoff and Greg sit down with Dave Jacobs, President and CEO of Receptiv, a company with a fresh take on driving performance by focusing on when people are most receptive.

The conversation explores how leadership, focus, and accountability drive both innovation and impact in adtech. From leading teams at startups and global corporations, Dave shares how he’s scaling performance, culture, and outcomes, without losing sight of what matters most.

Disclosure: Leadership In hosts and guests may hold financial interests in companies discussed in this episode, including Receptiv.

In a market obsessed with results, true leadership means knowing how to deliver them, again and again.

Nick Cote, VP and Head of Supply at TV Scientific, shares how he leads through hyper-growth and constant change in the connected-TV space. He breaks down outcome-based television, how to drive measurable performance at scale, and why clarity and accountability are the ultimate competitive advantages in ad tech’s next chapter.

01:55 Early lessons

03:17 Culture that drives growth

07:25 How TV Scientific redefines performance

09:14 Innovation in CTV

11:25 The shift to outcome-based advertising

18:25 Leading through hyper-growth

26:21 Looking ahead

Nolan Johnson, SVP of Media Partnerships at Grocery TV has helped turn grocery stores into one of advertising’s most powerful new frontiers. In this episode, he shares how leading with curiosity and courage helped him scale a startup into a national network, why 85% of grocery purchases still happen in-store, and what it takes to build both a category and a culture from the ground up.

03:19 The Importance of Taking Initiative

04:42 Advice for Early Career Professionals

06:47 Grocery TV: Leading in Digital Out-of-Home Media

10:23 Navigating Advertising Ecosystems and Measurement

12:53 The People Behind Grocery TV's Success

14:08 Hiring Entrepreneurial Talent

14:52 Balancing Agility and Focus

16:16 Building a Market from Scratch

17:27 Driving Innovation in Leadership

21:37 Challenges of Leading a Unique Market

25:32 Embracing Vulnerability in Leadership

28:41 Legacy and Mentorship

Priti Ohri, CEO of Advertible, has built her career, and her company, on one principle: do the right thing, even when it’s hard. In this episode, she shares how authenticity and values drive better business, why trust matters more than speed, and how she’s redefining leadership in the fast-moving world of ad tech.

Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, a leading independent advertising agency, joins us to discuss leadership in a rapidly evolving industry. Scott shares insights on Butler/Till's unique Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) model, fostering transparency and engagement, and creating a results driven culture where everyone feels invested in the company's success. The conversation delves into Scott's career journey, the impact of intellectual curiosity, and the importance of aligning strategy with core business values. Scott also highlights the balance of consensus decision-making and long-term vision in leadership.

01:19 Scott's Career Journey

06:31 Advice and Leadership Insights

08:51 Butler Till's Unique Culture

09:46 Employee Ownership and Its Impact

14:49 Challenges and Benefits of the ESOP Structure

23:31 Leadership Decisions and Strategy

34:55 Future Vision and Legacy

Veteran adtech reporter Ronan Shields from Digiday joins Greg MacDonald and Geoff Wolinetz to explore leadership in advertising, media, and technology. The conversation covers Ronan's career journey as a journalist across three continents, insights on the relationship between media and industry figures, and the essential role of fact-checking in digital journalism. Ronan also talks about the potential benefits and challenges posed by AI in journalism.

01:00 Ronan's Global Journey in Journalism

01:45 Navigating Media and Industry Dynamics

05:59 The Role of Journalism in Shaping Leadership

09:12 Engagement and Storytelling in Journalism

12:44 Notable Leaders in Media and Tech

15:26 The Role of Fact-Checking in Digital Media

17:22 The Influence of Corporate Communications

21:01 The Impact of AI on Journalism

22:29 Leadership Trends in the Media Industry

23:59 The Role of CEOs in Shaping Company Culture

This episode was recorded at Podstream Studios in New York City.