AdTechGod Pod

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Eric Tilbury, Senior Director of Ad Operations and Product Solutions at Inuvo, Inc, shares his extensive experience in the ad tech industry. He discusses the importance of operational knowledge, the impact of AI on ad operations, and how building a personal brand can enhance professional growth. Eric emphasizes the need for human oversight in automated systems and the significance of transparency in advertising. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of ad tech and the role of social media in shaping industry narratives.

Takeaways

Eric Tilbury has been with Inuvo, Inc for over 13 years, showcasing loyalty and belief in the product.

Operational knowledge is crucial for understanding what works in ad tech.

Building a personal brand can significantly enhance professional opportunities.

AI will streamline ad operations but requires human oversight for effective results.

The ad tech industry needs to focus on educating buyers to improve decision-making.

Quality in advertising is subjective and varies between buyers.

Social media can be a powerful tool for lead generation and professional growth.

Transparency in ad operations is essential to maintain trust in the industry.

Automation in ad tech should not replace the need for human insight and judgment.

Engaging in respectful dialogue on social media can foster positive relationships and knowledge sharing.

Chapter

00:00 Introduction to Eric Tilbury and his 13-plus-year journey at Inuvo, Inc

02:30 The advantage of being in the weeds in ad operations

04:00 Why operational knowledge beats high-level strategy alone

07:50 From unknown to industry voice: Eric’s social media journey

09:30 The e-bike experiment that sparked his content strategy

12:00 The 3 pillars of social media success: likability, knowledge, and controversy

15:00 Why respectful disagreement builds stronger authority

16:40 Fixing ad tech starts with smarter buyers

17:20 AI in ad ops hype vs reality

18:00 Why automation still needs human expertise

20:30 Black boxes, transparency, and trust in programmatic

22:00 Why AI should not fully control ad budgets

23:30 Predictions for automation in 2026

27:00 Programmatic pitfalls, ID fraud, and blind buying

33:30 Final thoughts and industry impact
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At Marketecture Live III, Aleen Dreksler, Co-founder and CEO of Betches Media, discusses how a college blog evolved into a large-scale entertainment brand. She shares insights on understanding audience behavior, adapting across platforms, and using humor and relatability to connect with women. The conversation also touches on Betches Sports, brand collaborations, and the company’s direction moving forward.

Takeaways

Betches focused on understanding real experiences rather than targeting demographics

Humor plays a key role in audience engagement and brand connection

A consistent voice helps build long-term loyalty

Growth came from adapting to platforms where audiences already spend time

Relatable content helps audiences feel understood

Cultural relevance is more effective than traditional advertising approaches

There is an underserved space in how women engage with sports content

The company operates across both media and creative work with brands

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and Betches Media

01:37 Origins of Betches as an anonymous college blog

03:02 Early gap in women’s content and tone of voice

05:14 Growth into a larger media brand

05:42 Expanding across platforms

07:20 Focusing on psychographics over demographics

08:15 Maintaining a consistent brand voice

09:09 Reaching different generations

10:44 Launching Betches Sports

12:33 Working with brands

14:04 Evolution of the business model

14:33 The role of humor in marketing

16:15 Future direction of Betches

17:32 Reflections and advice
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Amanda DeVito, Chief Marketing Officer at Butler/Till, shares her journey from strategy leader to executive and what it really takes to grow within a single company over 15 years. She breaks down the power of culture, access over “empowerment,” and why modern agencies must embrace collaboration, AI, and adaptability to stay relevant.

From building internal evangelists to navigating the future of marketing, Amanda offers a candid look at leadership, brand building, and what agencies must do to win in an increasingly complex landscape.

Takeaways

Culture and continuous challenge are key to long-term career growth

Access, not just empowerment, drives real diversity and impact

Strong agencies create internal evangelists, not just employees

Collaboration across media, creative, and data is now essential

AI will amplify both strong and weak strategies

Brand building still matters even in a performance-driven world

Relevance comes from understanding audiences deeply

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amanda DeVito and Butler/Till

01:30 Amanda’s journey into marketing and leadership

04:00 Why culture keeps people long-term

06:00 Diversity, access, and leadership dynamics

08:40 Building internal evangelists at scale

11:40 The shift toward media as a strategic center

14:00 Why collaboration is the modern agency model

16:00 The evolution of storytelling through data

18:00 Short-term vs long-term brand building

19:30 What’s coming in the next 12–18 months (AI & agentic)

22:30 How fast the industry is changing

24:30 Strategy vs tools in modern marketing

26:00 Influencers, relevance, and consumer behavior

28:50 The power of community and virality
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At Marketecture Live in NYC, Bob Lord (President, Horizon Media) and Obele Brown-West (President, Colle McVoy), with Mike Shields (Founder, Next in Media) break down innovation cycles, legacy tech challenges, and why human creativity still matters in an AI-driven world.

Takeaways:

AI is creating massive confusion, but also an opportunity

Legacy systems are the biggest barrier to progress

The future is platform-based, not siloed

AI won’t replace creativity, but will scale execution

Upskilling talent is more important than replacing it

Legal and transparency concerns are rising fast

Agency business models must evolve

Creative and media are converging again

Chapters :

00:00 Introduction to Marketecture Live

01:23 The “AI Armageddon” Debate Begins

01:54 What Clients Are Really Saying About AI

02:53 Why Brands and Agencies Aren’t Ready Yet

03:28 The Need for New Marketing Operating Systems

04:40 Can AI Replace Agencies?

06:00 Legacy Tech Is Slowing Everything Down

07:30 Open Ecosystems vs. Fragmentation

08:28 Do New Agencies Have the Advantage?

10:06 AI, Jobs, and the Need for Upskilling

12:11 Rethinking Agency Pricing Models

14:04 Connecting Marketing to Business Outcomes

15:16 The Limits of AI in Creativity

17:07 AI Legal Risks and Client Concerns

19:19 Responsible AI Use in Agencies

20:46 The Future: AI as a Growth Engine

21:03 The Reunification of Creative and Media

22:05 Closing Thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Daleo, GM of the CPG ads business at DoorDash, joins the AdTechGod Pod to discuss how retail media is evolving and how DoorDash is helping CPG brands reach consumers in new ways. She shares her journey from Right Media and Unilever to building retail media capabilities at Jet and DoorDash, along with insights into data, targeting, and the future of advertising.

Katie explains how DoorDash uses closed-loop measurement, dish-level targeting, and off-site audience activation to help brands drive performance. She also discusses the growing complexity of retail media networks, why simplification matters for advertisers, and how AI and data will shape the next phase of the ad tech ecosystem.

Takeaways

Katie Daleo’s career spans early ad tech, CPG brand management, and retail media leadership.

DoorDash connects CPG brands with consumers using its marketplace and retail media platform.

Dish-level targeting lets brands reach users based on the meals and cuisines they order.

Closed-loop measurement allows advertisers to track campaigns directly to purchases on DoorDash.

Retail media networks must balance simplification with tailored solutions for different brands.

AI and data analysis are becoming key tools for faster consumer discovery and decision making.

Strong leadership comes from curiosity, intentional career moves, and understanding personal strengths and gaps.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Katie Daleo and the DoorDash CPG ads business

01:00 Katie’s path from Right Media to Unilever and into retail media

04:00 How DoorDash’s retail media platform works for CPG brands

05:18 Dish-level targeting and how brands reach food-affinity audiences

07:25 The role of data science and insights teams in advertising strategy

08:22 Trends shaping retail media and advertising over the next year

10:20 Closed-loop measurement and full-funnel advertising on DoorDash

12:15 AI, consumer discovery, and the future of search and advertising

14:08 Using DoorDash data for off-site advertising campaigns

15:37 Building partnerships and scaling DoorDash retail media

18:16 Leadership lessons and building a successful career in ad tech
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices