Inside MAD//Fest 2024
The Digital Voice™ Takes On London’s Biggest Industry Event
MAD//Fest is and always has been a hub for ideas and networking opportunities and this year was no exception. Bigger and better than ever before both in size and impact, I wanted to take a look back and recap all the brilliant opportunities, insights and inspiration that came out of this year's event.
From inspiring sessions to catching up with my fantastic team at The Digital Voice™, there was plenty of excitement for me around this year’s MAD//Fest. Throughout the three days, I had the privilege of diving deep into the latest trends and witnessed the types of pivotal conversations that are helping shape the future of advertising.
In its second year, the team were very proud sponsors of The Female Leaders' Club, and it was an absolute resounding success. Every session was packed, and each speaker brought fresh, insightful perspectives to the stage. Attendees left every bite-sized, fun, fast-paced, and digestible session feeling like leaders—brimming with strength and confidence which was certainly the aim. Our industry, over the years, has become more focused on embracing diversity, inclusion and equality and rightly so. Comparing the growth and popularity of the Female Leaders Club last year to this year’s was a perfect reflection of the positive progress that a large part of our industry has been making towards an even more open and inspired industry than ever before and it was definitely a highlight to see that all happening in person.
Aside from the successes of the Female Leader’s Club, the sessions were an absolute standout for me and I came away with so much more industry knowledge and perspectives than I had when I arrived. So, to really digest the brilliant conversations that were happening across this year’s MAD//Fest, I’ve compiled a full breakdown of some of my favourite panels.
Utiq: Trust Me, I’m A Telco
The event kicked off with a session from Utiq’s Sara Vincent and Vodafone’s Nikos Vlachopoulos on the DigiAds stage. The duo delved into the the future of privacy in digital advertising space and the essential role that telcos can play in crafting a privacy-first future.
In the words of Nikos, “Telcos are essential to the everyday; our services are built on trust.”
Utiq is now teaming up with telcos to kick-start the collaboration between telcos and advertisers with privacy and transparency being at the forefront.
My key takeaway: Prioritising privacy in advertising is a must. Sara Vincent emphasised, “Putting the user first and respecting consent and privacy to create a safer data ecosystem,” and I totally agree.
Leap to Lead: Women In Sales
One of the most inspiring panels I had the pleasure of attending was the “Leap to Lead: Why aren’t there more women in sales?'' session. This panel featured Suzanna Chaplin from esbconnect, Rob Garber from GumGum, Sara Vincent from Utiq, and was hosted by Julia Linehan. They broke down the barriers preventing women from entering sales roles and the steps needed to create a more inclusive workplace and encourage women to get their foot in the door.
Suzanna Chaplin shared her experience at esbconnect, noting the challenges in finding female candidates for senior sales roles. She stressed the need for workplace flexibility to accommodate women’s needs, like balancing family responsibilities with work pressures.
One thing that Sara Vincent said really stood out to me, “women in senior sales roles can pave the way by being more vocal about their role and creating a role model for other women looking to get into sales.” As a South Asian woman in the UK who rarely sees women like me represented, when I do I appreciate the oppurtunities to hear their stories and learn from their experiences. There can never be too many of these inspiring narratives.
Leap to Lead From A Young Age: Breaking Through Barriers
“There’s no age to leading.”
Daniel Pirchio, founder of Onetag, shared his journey as a young entrepreneur in a session with Julia Linehan that encouraged pushing boundaries and stepping out of one’s comfort zones (something i’m trying to do more and more of).
Daniel’s passion for innovation and his belief in the power of a strong pitch and product was what got him to the point he’s at today. His advice to “have the right mindset, be resilient, and most importantly, don’t give up” resonated deeply with me as a person who will always try to figure things out myself before asking for help. Having only started Onetag at 19, it’s an inspiring story to hear.
Nectar360: The Truth Behind Retail Media Evolution in the UK
This panel brought together industry leaders Amir Rasekh from Nectar360, Paul Frampton-Calero, Oliver Shayer, Tash Whitmey, and Ben O’Mahoney to discuss the evolution of retail media in the UK. They highlighted the importance of AI in enhancing customer experiences and the need for collaboration over competition.
Amir Rasekh’s statement, “Everything we do is around what works for the customer. If you lose sight of the customers, there’s no future for retail media,” was a powerful reminder of the customer-centric approach that makes Nectar so successful.
From Burnout To Bliss: In Conversation With Ferne McCann
The "From Burnout to Bliss'' session with Julia Linehan and Ferne McCann was a lively and rejuvenating highlight at MAD//Fest. Ferne, COO and co-founder of Shoorah and TV personality, shared her journey from the chaos of celebrity life to finding mental stability through therapy and spirituality.
The discussion was not only insightful but interactive, featuring live breathwork exercises that invited everyone to pause and unwind amidst the madness.
My favourite part? Ferne’s candid advice and engaging energy during the Q&A session at the Female Leaders’ Club straight after.
Head over to listen to our Off Record On Point episode with Ferne to hear more on this if you didn’t get to be there on the day:
LINK
Accessible by Design: How Marketers Can Champion Inclusive Advertising
Responsible Marketing Agency’s founder & CEO, Hannah Mirza, alongside Bobi Carley (ISBA) and Casey Hendricks (Google), led a powerful discussion on the importance of accessibility in advertising. They emphasised that inclusive advertising is not just an option but a duty.
Key takeaways included the need for subtitles in all advertisements and the importance of building products with and for the disabled community.
This session was a real eye-opener for me. The emphasis on inclusivity and the actionable steps we can take to ensure our advertising reaches and respects everyone was truly inspiring and something we should always be mindful of.
Leap to Lead: Sustainability
The sustainability panel, featuring Multilocals’ Rachel Powney, Marcela Oguntoye from Seenthis, and Julia Linehan, addressed the significant impact of digital campaigns on carbon emissions.
Rachel Powney shared a startling fact: “One digital campaign emits the same amount of carbon emissions as seven people in one year.” The panel discussed actionable steps companies can take towards sustainability and the growing importance of sustainability in the corporate agenda.
I was particularly struck by the discussions on how small steps can make a big difference and the need for companies to feel empowered by the positive changes they can make.
F*ck Being Humble: Build Unapologetic Confidence
Attending Stefanie Sword-Williams, founder of F*ck Being Humble, masterclass at MAD//Fest 2024 was a refreshing and empowering experience.
Two standout insights from the session were Stefanie's affirmations: “If you think positively, you are more likely to estimate positive outcomes” and “The words you speak are the house you live in.” (My new Mantra!) These powerful statements underscore the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and recognising the impact of our words.
For me, Stefanie's session was not just about encouraging people to embrace positivity and authenticity; it was a call to action to live boldly and unapologetically, fostering a more confident and empowered self.
In Conversation With Vanessa Kingori: How To Build Your Authentic Brand
During the "How To Build Your Authentic Brand" session, Julia Linehan and Google’s Vanessa Kingori and Kay Munday, offered an insightful deep dive into the significance of personal branding in today's career landscape.
Vanessa, a true media powerhouse, shared her own inspiring journey and unveiled innovative strategies for crafting a personal brand that not only stands out but also propels one's career forward.
She highlighted how a compelling personal brand can break barriers, open doors to new opportunities, and cement one's legacy as a thought leader. Her fresh perspective left me motivated to redefine my professional identity with purpose.
Missed us at MAD//Fest? Check out our events calendar to keep an eye on all the hottest events hitting our industry throughout the year: LINK
Sherebano Anverally is the Senior Social Media and Content Marketing Executive at The Digital Voice . Prior to joining The Digital Voice, Sherry had completed 10+ work experience programs and a work placement year as a digital marketer alongside her degree. Over the years, she's created and executed multiple social media strategies for a wide range of brands as well as experience in managing client relationships and collaborating with different teams across the business. She now uses all her social media skills to create and share unique and out-of-the-box strategies, ideas, and tools in her ordinary routine with over 1,800+ followers on LinkedIn.
