In 1999, I began working at DoubleClick—the very first internet ad serving company. For 2 years I learned how to code, traffic, manage large campaigns and consult agency partners on bringing DCLK’s DART for Advertisers serving platform (now known as Google Ad Manager) in-house. My unforgettable tenure at the company took place during the infamous dot com boom, which has yielded plenty of stories and kickstarted an incredible 23+ year career in media and advertising.

At Yahoo! my role as a Strategic Account Manager had a dual reporting structure into Business Operations and Ad Sales. This allowed me to create a close partnership with my Finserve and Pharma vertical AE’s while also managing pre and post-sales processes and stewardship of large campaigns across Yahoo Homepage, Mail, Messenger and Finance. My years at Yahoo! were incredibly rewarding and taught me the value of teamwork, mentorship and a community based culture.

Despite never having played golf in my life I was recruited to Time Inc.’s Golf Magazine to be part of the team leading the launch of their new digital platform, Golf.com. I was responsible for East Coast digital sales and led partnerships around The Masters. I was given all of the necessary tools and lessons, I wound up being much better at selling golf than playing it. Spending quality time with clients and colleagues on the golf course was an invaluable experience and an incredible introduction to the power of networking in an intimate setting.

I was fortunate to work at Microsoft during a transformative shift in digital advertising when mobile and gaming were on the rise. Within those 3 years one of my key CPG clients partnered with us on product integration directly into an XBOX game, while my largest QSR worked with us on the creation of a new platform that enabled pizza ordering from your phone to your gaming console. Microsoft had a strong culture based on positivity, learning and camaraderie which developed into an incredibly supportive professional and personal network and showed me the importance of a work family.

Viacom opened the door to the world of television and a completely new part of the industry for me. Although my role was primarily to lead digital sales for the Entertainment properties of Comedy Central and Spike, I immersed myself in learning the linear business and was eager to work with my TV counterparts on convergent partnerships and in-show integrations. During the 2012 election year I negotiated and directed the largest multi-platform sponsorship in Comedy Central history (to date). AT&T’s “Indecision 2012” sponsorship with The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert made it clear that the power of content and talent coupled with digital and television, was an unbeatable combination.

As VP of Digital Sales at MSLO, I reported directly to both the CRO and the legend herself. I was responsible for structuring, organizing, hiring and developing a national digital sales team of 15+, for a globally recognized brand and celebrity business owner who’d recently relaunched her digital platform. Within 2 years we’d created a successful digital business that netted +40% YOY growth, built content franchises including “Martha’s Countdown to Christmas”, and created a high performing team built on a culture of collaboration, a focused “big bet” strategy, and shared celebrated wins. It was at MSLO that I learned the tremendous importance of emotional intelligence, leading by example and with kindness, and that empathy in leadership is an invaluable quality.