
Hosted by Jeremy Bloom · EN

Ajinkya “Jinx” Joglekar joins Jeremy Bloom to share what he learned leading marketing at Dish and Sling, why he decided to take the leap into consulting after 20+ years in corporate, and how curiosity became the skill that helped him “punch above his weight” early in his career. They also dig into what real mentorship looks like, how leaders can build a culture of learning across teams, and why great advertising is not just creative and media but also the sales experience. Takeaways Your corporate career can be the venture capital that funds your future risk-taking. Curiosity lets you lead and influence even before you have a title or direct reports. Great advertising only works when creative, media, and the sales experience are connected. Leaders build learning cultures by meeting every level of the team and making collaboration unavoidable. Mentorship programs work best when they are supported from the top but driven organically from the ground. Chapters 00:00 Jinx introduces himself and his background leading marketing at Dish and Sling. 03:05 Why he left the CMO seat to bet on himself and start consulting. 06:40 The mentor who gave him his first real marketing start and taught him scrappy fundamentals. 12:10 The moment he realized curiosity is a career advantage that helps you punch above your weight. 14:40 How to build a culture of learning through one-on-ones and cross-team collaboration. 18:10 Advice for emerging marketers and sellers: don’t stay in your lane and use your network. 20:05 How organizations can create mentorship programs that work without feeling forced.

Jeremy Bloom and Scott Hess, Chief Marketing Officer of Starcom and Chief Marketing Officer of Publicis Media, discuss the significance of the Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day, the importance of mentorship and networking in the advertising industry, and personal experiences that shaped their careers. They reflect on the joy of working in advertising and the opportunities available for young professionals entering the field. Takeaways Scott Hess is the Chief Work Officer of Publicis Media. The Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day is crucial for networking. Mentorship can significantly impact career paths in advertising. Career Day demystifies the advertising industry for young people. Networking events provide access to industry leaders and opportunities. Scott's son found joy in advertising after initially pursuing engineering. The advertising industry offers diverse career paths and opportunities. Personal connections can lead to job opportunities and mentorship. The excitement of young professionals can reinvigorate seasoned veterans. Chicago's winter can be a downside, but the city has much to offer. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:43 The Importance of Career Day 05:37 Mentorship and Networking in Advertising 08:50 Personal Experiences and Career Paths 11:38 The Joy of Working in Advertising 14:37 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Heather Macaulay, President of MadConnect, joins Jeremy Bloom to talk about simplifying complexity in ad tech, making career decisions across different life seasons, and why the best leaders focus on problem solving, listening, and connecting people behind the scenes. Takeaways Heather Macaulay is the president of MadConnect. MadConnect automates connectivity in the advertising ecosystem. Presenting a clear message is crucial for success. Entrepreneurship requires taking risks and trusting oneself. Sales should focus on problem-solving rather than transactions. Mentorship plays a vital role in career development. Balancing career and family requires conscious decisions. Building a personal brand involves genuine connections. Listening is key to effective mentorship. Your network is essential for success in any industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Heather Macaulay 02:41 Understanding MadConnect and Its Role 05:52 The Journey to Entrepreneurship 08:33 Sales Strategies and Problem Solving 11:38 Mentorship and Guidance 14:37 Balancing Career and Family Life 17:20 Building Trust and Personal Brand 20:39 Parting Words and Industry Insights

Jeremy Bloom and Lida Tohidi explore the intersection of product management and coaching, discussing the importance of balancing work and personal well-being. Lida shares her journey from being a med school dropout to a successful product manager and coach, emphasizing the need to recognize burnout and set boundaries. They delve into the fears that many professionals face in the tech industry and the significance of human connection in overcoming these challenges. Lida also highlights effective mentorship strategies and the lessons she has learned from her own mentors, concluding with a call to action for listeners to pause and reflect on their own lives. Takeaways Lida transitioned from med school to tech, finding her niche in product management. Balancing technical skills with coaching is essential for success. Burnout is a common issue in tech, and setting boundaries is crucial. Many professionals feel an impending sense of doom due to an unsustainable work pace. Intentionally slowing down can lead to better outcomes. Effective mentorship involves accountability and co-creating goals. Lida emphasizes the importance of human connection in tech roles. Taking breaks and resting is vital for long-term productivity. Self-reflection and pausing can enhance personal well-being. Trusting your team is essential for effective leadership. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:37 Balancing Product Management and Coaching 05:17 Recognizing Burnout and Setting Boundaries 07:58 Traits of Successful Leaders 11:07 Effective Mentorship and Guidance 13:41 Lessons from Mentors and Personal Growth 16:32 Final Thoughts and Advice

In this engaging conversation, siblings Hannah Bloom and Walter Bloom, along with their father Jeremy Bloom, explore various themes such as personal interests, mentorship, aspirations, and the importance of being true to oneself. They share insights on how to navigate challenges, the significance of role models, and the value of pursuing one's passions. The discussion also touches on the impact of peer pressure and the importance of kindness and support in relationships. Ultimately, they emphasize living life to the fullest and staying authentic in a world that often encourages conformity. Takeaways Hannah and Walter express their interests in acting, DJing, and biking. Mentorship plays a crucial role in their lives, with family and teachers as key figures. Living life to the fullest and seizing opportunities is essential. It's important to pursue what makes you happy, regardless of others' opinions. Being yourself means being a leader and not a follower. Peer pressure can be challenging, but individuality is important. Advice for adults includes being supportive and understanding in the workplace. Legacy is about being remembered as a good person and making a positive impact. Both siblings aspire to help others and support causes they believe in. The conversation highlights the importance of family support and open communication. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Meet Hannah and Walter 02:10 What Dad Does for Work 03:20 Personifying Oh, Hello 04:00 Mentors and Role Models 05:30 Advice for the World 07:00 Handling Peer Pressure and Confidence 09:20 Asking for Help and Learning from Others 13:10 What They Want to Be When They Grow Up 17:10 Starting a Business and Giving Back 19:10 Finding What You’re Good At 20:25 What It Means to Be Yourself 22:00 Teasing, Bullying, and Respect 24:50 Advice for Grownups at Work 27:10 Advice to Their Future Selves 28:40 Legacy and Impact 30:20 Questions for Dad 36:30 Final Words of Wisdom

In this episode, Jeremy Bloom sits down with marketing veteran and advisor Julie Ginches to explore her journey from serial CMO in ad tech to building a purpose-driven consultancy and reclaiming balance. Julie shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, self-care, mindfulness, and why marketing is the connective tissue of the C-suite. They dive into thought leadership as context rather than content, the realities of AI in marketing, and how giving without expectation can shape a lasting career. A grounded, honest conversation about ambition, authenticity, and choosing yourself at every stage of growth. Takeaways Life is a three-legged stool: work, family, and self. Marketing is the glue that stitches the C-suite together. Always give, no matter what you do in your career. The past is your rear-view mirror; don't dwell on it. Mindfulness is about being grounded in the moment. AI is a collaborative tool that should be used thoughtfully. Thought leadership is about context, not just content. Companies have no soul; prioritize your independence. Entrepreneurship is fulfilling but often undervalued. Figure out what you're good at and pursue it. Chapters 00:00 Intro and welcome 01:00 Meet Julie Ginches 02:45 From CMO to advisor and founder 04:10 The three-legged stool of life 05:45 Self care as a leadership responsibility 07:20 What CEOs misunderstand about marketing 09:05 Mentorship and giving without expectation 10:45 Emotional resilience and perspective 12:30 Mindfulness in practice 14:20 AI in marketing is underhyped and overhyped 16:10 Balancing AI with human storytelling 17:45 Thought leadership as context, not content 19:10 A career-defining leap 21:00 Advice for the next generation 22:45 Final reflections and closing

Jeremy Bloom chats with Marketecture’s Chief Strategy Officer, Sam Khoury, about building meaningful careers through mentorship, collaboration, and humility. From navigating challenges to leading with empathy, Sam shares how success is less about titles and more about balance, awareness, and continuous growth. Takeaway Mentorship is the key to personal and professional growth. Self-awareness builds better teams and stronger leaders. Asking for help early prevents bigger challenges later. Balance between work and life defines long-term success. True leadership comes from collaboration, not control. Chapter 00:00 Introduction and Sam’s journey 03:30 Lessons from mentors who shaped his path 06:10 Defining real strategy and holistic thinking 08:20 The strength in humility and asking for help 12:00 Staying consistent through challenges 15:10 Creating a culture of trust and openness 18:00 Finding fulfillment through balance 21:20 Final advice on leadership and growth

Elizabeth Donovan shares her story of resilience, leadership, and finding balance. From her family’s legacy of survival and hard work to her role as an empathetic leader at Acxiom, she opens up about the lessons that shaped her work ethic, mentorship, self-care, and community. A powerful look at how vulnerability can strengthen leadership and drive meaningful connections in today’s hybrid work culture. Takeaways True leadership starts with empathy and understanding your team as people. Balancing family, health, and work makes you a stronger professional. Vulnerability connects leaders to their teams more deeply than perfection ever could. Mentorship is a two-way exchange of learning that happens at every level. Self-care and community are essential for long-term success and well-being. Chapters 00:00 Jeremy Bloom welcomes Elizabeth Donovan and sets the tone for an honest conversation. 01:00 Elizabeth explains why vulnerability is the foundation of leadership. 04:30 Elizabeth reflects on her parents’ immigrant story and the lessons of resilience. 08:00 How guidance and hard work shaped her professional path. 10:40 From AccuWeather to Marriott to Acxiom, Elizabeth’s journey of innovation. 14:00 Why collaboration and flexibility drive today’s hybrid teams. 18:30 The importance of boundaries, family time, and personal rituals. 22:20 Elizabeth’s renewed focus on wellness and connection. 23:50 Her advice for the next generation of leaders.

In this episode, Jeremy Bloom sits down with Mike Hauptman, founder and CEO of AdLib, to explore how he’s redefining access to the programmatic advertising ecosystem and reshaping what leadership looks like in a remote-first world. Mike shares how AdLib evolved from a bootstrap experiment to a thriving global team of 20, serving independent agencies and brands with a unified platform that simplifies campaign execution across every DSP, SSP, and retail media network. The conversation dives deep into leadership, culture, mentorship, and resilience, as Mike reflects on lessons learned from building a company through industry disruption, maintaining connections across continents, and fostering trust in a world without office walls. Takeaways AdLib was built to solve a long-standing problem in ad tech: fragmented access across programmatic platforms. Mike and co-founder Dan Bogert turned a shared frustration into a company through persistence, patience, and self-funding. The collapse of MediaMath became a turning point that forced AdLib to evolve quickly and expand its reach. Leadership, for Mike, is about trust, not control, and giving people the space to deliver their best work. Running a remote team means finding new ways to create closeness and connection beyond office walls. A strong culture starts with empathy, small gestures of care, and genuine investment in people’s wellbeing. Transparency and vulnerability are core to how Mike communicates, both in success and in struggle. Mentorship and family values have shaped his belief in showing up, working hard, and staying grounded. Mike’s advice to future founders: take the leap, stay curious, and don’t let fear of failure hold you back. Chapters 00:00 Introductions and Mike’s Background 01:55 What AdLib Does and Its Purpose 03:22 The Journey from MediaMath to Founding AdLib 05:17 Early Iterations and Lessons from Bootstrapping 07:22 Evolving Leadership and Culture in a Remote World 09:47 Building Trust and Accountability Across Teams 11:23 Attracting Global Talent and Creating Belonging 13:59 Investing in People and Wellbeing 15:18 Fostering Vulnerability and Openness Remotely 17:17 Preparing for Growth and Staying Agile 19:22 Leading with Empathy Through Life’s Highs and Lows 20:14 Mentors, Work Ethic, and Life Lessons 22:35 Hard Lessons in Trust and Perseverance 24:01 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

In this conversation, Jeremy Bloom and Kevin Kowalick discuss Kevin's significant career pivot from a successful ad tech career to academia and coaching. They explore the motivations behind such a change, the importance of mentorship, and the challenges faced by emerging leaders. Kevin shares personal anecdotes about his journey, the impact of coaching on individuals feeling stuck in their careers, and the value of investing in people within organizations. The discussion emphasizes the need for leaders to recognize and support their teams, fostering an environment where individuals feel seen and heard. Takeaways Kevin Kowalick made a bold decision to pivot from ad tech to academia. The concept of a 'multipreneur' reflects a desire for diverse career experiences. Coaching is about helping individuals unlock their potential and overcome fear. Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping leadership styles and approaches. Emerging leaders often lack the training needed to transition from doers to leaders. Real-world examples enhance learning and engagement in the classroom. Fear is a common barrier to career advancement and change. Investing in employee development is more cost-effective than replacing talent. Leaders should prioritize making their team members feel valued and heard. Personal experiences in the industry can inform and enrich teaching and coaching. Chapters 00:00 The Bold Career Pivot 02:33 The Journey to Academia and Coaching 05:46 Support Systems and Family Dynamics 08:38 Influential Mentors and Leadership Lessons 11:44 Transitioning from Doer to Leader 14:31 Real-World Impact of Coaching 17:42 Bridging Theory and Practice in Education 20:28 Preparing Emerging Leaders 23:38 Overcoming Fear and Career Stagnation 26:13 Investing in People and Coaching