The IAB UK Podcast

In this special International Women's Day episode, the IAB’s Director of Transformation, Sophia Haynes, is joined by Nikki Sehgal, General Manager of Media for All (MEFA), to explore the critical issues surrounding gender equity in the media and advertising industries. Recorded just before International Women's Day last Saturday, they discuss the initiatives making a real difference and the vital steps needed to continue breaking down barriers to equality.With the theme of this year’s IWD being #AccelerateAction, Nikki shares her vision for driving change in 2025, and the crucial role allies can play in advancing gender equity. Sophia and Nikki also dive into the growing gender tech gap, unpacking why women are less likely to adopt technologies like generative AI, and what this could mean for both the gender pay gap and career opportunities in the future.Nikki also discusses her involvement in the All In Action Plan, set to launch today (12 March), and how it will tackle the important issues of representation and the experience of Asian talent within the industry. Take part here: https://advertisingallin.co.uk/all-in-census/

This week on The IAB UK Podcast, we’re bringing you a live recording from February’s Last Thursday Club, where we explored how AI can help you work smarter, not harder, and win back your time. Hosted by our Chief Strategy Officer, James Chandler, this insightful discussion delves into the power of AI to streamline workflows, automate tasks and supercharge productivity.Joining James are Natalie Monk, Head of Digital Accelerators at Dentsu UK, Indy Lehal, Enterprise Sales Specialist at Google and James Murray, Global Product Marketing Lead for Generative AI at Microsoft Advertising. Together, they discuss how AI is enhancing productivity, supporting neurodiversity and enabling professionals to be more successful in their roles.Book this month's Last Thursday Club now: /www.iabuk.com/events-training/last-thursday-club-supporting-early-talent-hybrid-world

In this episode, James Chandler, IAB UK's Chief Strategy Officer, is joined by Kristie Naha-Biswas, Head of Insight at IAB UK, for an exclusive deep dive into Futurescape - a major new project from the IAB that explores the attitudes, innovations and media shifts that will shape the ad industry in the lead up to 2030 and beyond.After a year of extensive research and collaboration with over 40 industry leaders, Futurescape uncovers groundbreaking insights into the shifts that will reshape the media landscape. From AI’s role in brand discovery to the crumbling of traditional media funnels, James and Kristie explore key findings and predictions for the next decade, including the rise of video display, digital retail media and the impact of Gen AI platforms on ad spend.Explore Futurescape in full here: https://www.iabuk.com/futurescape

Leadership Summit - our exclusive annual gathering of leaders from across the industry - is fast approaching so we’re digging into the podcast archives to serve up something to get you in the mood for March.  Last year, we were treated to incredible sessions from leaders like Kelly Beaver from Ipsos, Josh Krichefski from GroupM and England Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, who shared invaluable insights on leadership, resilience and what drives success. Our roving reporter, Charlotte Robinson, was on the ground capturing exclusive interviews and speaking with as many attendees as possible. So, settle in and enjoy a recap of last year’s event. Leadership Summit 2025 is taking place 13-14 March at Sopwell House in St Albans. Speakers include the Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan on her unique journey from policymaking to business leadership; Enders Analysis’ CEO Douglas McCabe on the economic climate; PHD’s Chief Strategy Officer Eva Grimmett on leading with ADHD; The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew who will be chairing a journalist panel about the huge shifts we’re currently seeing in global affairs and tech developments, plus many more. Find the packages available here: https://www.iabuk.com/leadership-summit-2025

In this episode of the IAB UK Podcast, IAB UK's CMO, James Chandler, delves into a pressing issue impacting advertisers, publishers and tech experts alike: the unintended consequences of keyword blocking in news environments.Recent research from Mantis reveals that terms like "victims" and "incident" are still blocking ads on content like Super Bowl-related coverage, affecting both publisher revenue and advertisers’ reach. In fact, even pop culture icons like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande have found their names on keyword blocklists, raising important questions about the effectiveness and overreach of these filters.James is joined by Becca Hutson, Editor-in-Chief of The News Movement, Tom Pickworth, Director of Technical Operations at Mail Metro Media and Fiona Salmon, Managing Director at Mantis, to discuss the implications of this issue and what steps the industry needs to take to foster a more balanced approach to brand safety, context and advertising reach - and what it will take to drive real change.As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic - drop us a line at podcast@iabuk.com

In this episode, James sits down with Sue Todd, CEO of NABS's, and Josh Krichefski, CEO of GroupM EMEA & President of IPA, to explore the pressing issue of workplace wellbeing in the advertising and media industries.With a recent study from Marketing Week revealing that over half of marketers are on the edge of burnout, they get into the importance of creating a people-first environment at work, Gen Z’s approach to leadership and how we can all work together to create healthier, more supportive environments for everyone in the industry.Don't forget to check out NABS’ tailored support courses for entry-level managers and the helpline available to those working in the advertising and media industry: https://nabs.org.uk/

This week on The IAB UK Podcast, we’re bringing you a live recording from January’s Last Thursday Club, where we focused on the rising influence of retailers as media giants. Hosted by our CMO, James Chandler, this insightful discussion delves into how retail platforms are evolving into major media players and what this means for brands, retailers and the broader advertising landscape.Joining James are Katie Streeter Hurle, Chief Strategy Officer at SMG, Tim Abraham from The Trade Desk, Lee Roberts from Tesco Media and Insight Platform and Amo Aujla-Tse from Publicis. Together, they tackle the challenges retailers face in competing with traditional media giants, the shifting dynamics of consumer behaviour and the complexities surrounding data, measurement, and regulation.

In this episode, James sits down with Phil Rowley, Head of Futures at OMG UK, to dive into the big trends set to reshape consumer behaviour and technology over the next decade.Fresh off OMG UK’s 'Closer to the Edge 2.0' report, James and Phil unpack the key insights on what businesses need to know in order to stay ahead. From blockchain innovations in fashion and vertical farming to the rising influence of gaming and AI, they cover the technologies and shifts that will have the biggest impact.Phil also shares what companies should focus on now to ensure they’re ready for the next wave of innovation, so you can stay ahead of the competition and harness the opportunities that lie ahead. The report is available here: https://cloud.3dissue.net/37819/37738/38109/125932/index.html?6180#

In this episode, IAB UK's CMO James Chandler is joined by Christine Armstrong and Bruce Daisley - both authors and productivity experts - for an insightful discussion on the changing world of work.As the debate around hybrid work and return-to-office mandates continues, James, Christine and Bruce get into how productivity is measured, the role of physical workspace in creativity and the cultural shifts that are reshaping employee expectations.They also explore the importance of flexibility in work arrangements, how organisations can better meet the needs of a changing workforce and why understanding employee sentiment is now more critical than ever.Chapters00:00 The return to office debate 02:26 Productivity myths and realities 04:54 Cultural shifts and economic pressures 07:56 The role of leadership in hybrid work 10:38 Creativity and physical space 13:44 Navigating employee sentiment 16:42 Optimism for the future of work