In our blog series “Life in Adtech” we’re showcasing the different ways in which StackAdapters are driving innovation in adtech, and creating a progressive tech culture. From using modeling and data to create advanced algorithms to building stylish and robust user interfaces, everyone at StackAdapt is contributing to evolving the StackAdapt platform and providing the best product and service for our clients.
This month features Brandon Lee, Senior Manager in Platform Quality at StackAdapt. Brandon shares his journey into adtech, what his role entails, and how his career has progressed on the Platform Quality team at StackAdapt.
Can you share your journey into working in adtech, and what attracted you to platform quality?
After graduating from the University of Guelph with a degree in marketing, I picked up a full-time position as part of a bank’s fraud department. I worked in an office that was focused on investigating fraudulent or unauthorized banking transactions. This was a good fit for me because I had spent part of my academic career and all my full time experience working in the financial services industry.
My journey into adtech began in 2018 when I joined StackAdapt’s Platform Quality team. What attracted me to Platform Quality was the opportunity to apply my investigative mindset, request management skills, and customer service experience from the banking industry, to the advertising industry. At the time, StackAdapt was in start up mode. I was excited to be part of a smaller team of like-minded people, and to use my established strengths to explore new adtech solutions.
What does a day in the life of a Senior Manager in Platform Quality look like?
A typical day in my role is spent doing a mixture of planning, coaching, and building. In an effort to create structure within the everyday business operations, I meet with my colleagues and stakeholders within the organization to plan out and align on projects that we intend to launch in the short and long term.
Since I joined in 2018, the Platform Quality team has grown a lot! There are many new faces on our team and so each month, I spend part of my day coaching and providing education on processes to direct reports or internal stakeholders. This includes dealing with escalations that members of the Platform Quality team require when additional reviews are needed.
As a Senior Manager on the Platform Quality team, how do you contribute to the success of StackAdapt users?
The Platform Quality team is responsible for reviewing programmatic campaigns before they are sent to our supply partners, and ultimately to the intended audience. We’re in a unique position because we can impact both short term and long term success for our users.
Providing strategic guidance is the first way I contribute to the success of StackAdapt users. I want to help users to understand the capabilities of the platform and how it can be used to achieve their marketing goals. Our team collaborates with StackAdapt’s sales team and their clients to develop a campaign strategy that leverages the platform’s targeting capabilities to reach a specific audience.
Next, I offer technical expertise, and provide training and education to my direct reports and internal stakeholders. By having a deep understanding of how the platform works and being able to troubleshoot issues that arise regarding ad approval, I strive to provide guidelines or seek solutions on how to optimize the targeting parameters to achieve positive results. We want to equip all users with tools and skills they need to use the platform effectively.
Finally, I contribute to the success of users by advocating for them within the organization. This means working to ensure that the needs and feedback of users are taken into account when developing new features and improving the platform. I meet with sales team leads regularly in order to understand pain points and then collaborate with our product team to address those issues and make improvements based on user feedback.
Through all these efforts, I’m able to help StackAdapt users achieve their advertising goals, and get the most out of our platform.
You started out as a Platform Quality Analyst a few years ago. Since then, you’ve moved into new positions at StackAdapt. Can you share how your role and skills have evolved in the transition?
As you learn and develop in any career, it is essential to be patient, adaptable, and ready to take on risks. When I started as a Platform Quality Analyst, my responsibilities were to ensure that advertising campaigns met StackAdapt guidelines and that any issues were identified and resolved promptly. My role was heavily involved with ad campaign auditing, researching ad policies, and troubleshooting user pain points related to onboarding sensitive advertisers.
After taking more initiative on projects, I was promoted to Senior Analyst, Team Lead. I began to take on more of a leadership role by leading teams, managing projects, and coordinating with other departments. My role evolved to include more strategic planning and hiring, where I needed to identify the needs of the business and align them with the team direction.
As I continued to grow within the team, I had to shift my focus from being an individual contributor to leading a team. To this day, I still continue to exercise and develop my skills in task delegation, effective communication, and how to motivate my team to achieve their goals. The rapid expansion of our team and organization provided me an opportunity to mature my leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills.
As Senior Manager, the added responsibility of building and sustaining relationships with all stakeholders is essential. This includes working closely with other departments, such as engineering, marketing, and sales, to ensure that we are aligned with internal processes, project objectives and overall company direction. I also make sure to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to ensure that our platform is up to date and competitive.
My journey from a Platform Quality Analyst to a Senior Manager has been a rewarding challenge. I have had to learn new skills, take on new responsibilities, and adapt to new situations. The experience has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally.
What is the most rewarding part of being part of the Platform Quality team at StackAdapt?
One of the most rewarding parts of this role is the opportunity to have a direct impact on the organization’s success and the growth of its clients. Whether it’s through approving ad campaigns or helping campaigns reach their target audience more effectively, it is incredibly fulfilling to know that our team’s work has a tangible impact on our clients’ businesses.
Another major reward of being a part of the Platform Quality team is the opportunity to work with a talented and diverse group of people. The Platform Quality team is in a unique position to work with many stakeholders in the organization, and so we have the chance to learn from and collaborate with colleagues from different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Finally, being part of the Platform Quality team at StackAdapt provides ample opportunity and growth. The adtech industry is constantly evolving, and staying on top of the latest trends and standards requires ongoing learning and professional development. I love that in this role I get to attend industry events, participate in training and development programs, and keep a healthy learning culture to stay ahead of the curve.
Interested in joining StackAdapt? See our open roles and apply, here.
In each new addition, we will be highlighting our teams and employees in our “Life In Adtech” series—stay tuned for more!
