The one thing I didn’t expect at IAB's Annual Leadership Meeting (ALM)?
So many new faces! More than a quarter of my meetings this year were with senior decision-makers who were attending ALM for the first time.
The one thing I didn’t expect at IAB's Annual Leadership Meeting (ALM)?
So many new faces! More than a quarter of my meetings this year were with senior decision-makers who were attending ALM for the first time.
What stayed the same? ALM conversations blend deep experience with fresh perspectives — consistently insightful and shaping what’s next for our industry.
A few trends that are still heating up:
The industry is getting better at distinguishing what should be handled by people vs technology. Not only can this improve working media, but it enables expansion into global markets where resources are always more scarce than in the US. Ones to watch:
Premium supply and better pathways to inventory aren’t new ideas, but curation is unlocking them in new ways. Its role as a key enabler to commerce media solutions also helps explain curation’s 34% YoY growth (source: Adomik). Players to watch:
In the programmatic space, if your partnerships aren’t growing, your business isn’t either. The savviest companies are using insights to identify and accelerate partnership opportunities. If you’re an SSP or commerce media network looking to do the same, let’s connect — I’d love to share how Chelsea Strategies’ Market Intelligence insights can help.
As someone who has led teams through many adtech consolidations, it's great to see two companies merge their teams and technology to help 1+1=3. Hats off to the teams at Outbrain/Teads, Equativ /Sharethrough, The Trade Desk/Sincera and everyone else working hard to make this happen. The industry will be better because of it.
Excited for what’s ahead in 2025!