Welcome to our ‘In the Spotlight’ session where we’re shining a light on our ways of working, upcoming innovations, and our fantastic colleagues who make everything we do here possible. Today we’re introducing you to Shaun Bartholomew, who recently joined the company as our Customer Success Manager, in our New York office. 

Wait, what does ‘Customer Success’ do?

Where our Developer Relations team works to provide support for our game developers through the integration process, our Customer Success team provides crucial support for our advertising clients. 

By establishing, maintaining, and optimizing relations with our clientele, our partners can reap the maximum benefits of using our technology to get the results they want for their ad campaigns.

Getting to know Shaun

Shaun has been a part of Audiomob for a little over a month now, having completed the bulk of his onboarding. We sat down with Shaun to get more insight into his background before joining Audiomob, his views on current industry trends, and what he hopes to achieve in his role.

Tell us a bit about your background before joining Audiomob.

Shaun: My journey into the world of advertising began at Warner Bros on the ‘Addressable Sales’ team. The skills and experience I built there helped catapult me over to NBC Sports where I continued to hone my skills working as a key member of their digital team.

What has been the biggest shift for you moving from corporate companies to a more creative, tight-knit start-up?

Shaun: Working in corporate taught me many invaluable skills that I still use to this day but I’d say the biggest change for me is the increased level of agency and the faster-paced environment. There are always pros and cons, but working in a start-up environment involves more immediate decision-making and direct feedback loops that really allow me to apply all the skills I have built up across my career.

What are you most excited about in your new role?

Shaun: For me, it's having a more direct impact. The more agile nature of working in a start-up means that the actions I take as a Customer Success Manager have a noticeable and immediate impact on the business. I get to witness firsthand the results of my efforts with client satisfaction, product evolution, and company growth. 

How have you found the onboarding process?

Shaun: The pace is quick; there's no weeks-long orientation, just a hands-on dive into current projects and tools. You're instantly part of a team keen on pushing creative boundaries. Learning on the go, wearing different hats, and getting a holistic sense of the business are key to thriving.

What do you see as the primary challenge that comes with your role as a Customer Success Manager?

Shaun: Definitely the rapidly changing landscape. The advertising space is in constant flux. So, keeping up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices is absolutely essential for succeeding in this role.

Speaking of trends, digital audio is very much a growing industry. What are some of the changes in trends (if any) that you’re noticing in the industry?

Shaun:  In terms of trends and changes, programmatic audio advertising stands at the forefront of innovation in the advertising landscape, revolutionizing the way brands engage with audiences. Harnessing the power of real-time data and advanced algorithms, programmatic audio enables advertisers to automate the buying, placement, and optimization of ads, ensuring they reach the right audience at the right moment. 

You recently attended Advertising Week in New York alongside Group Black. How was the experience?

Shaun: Attending Advertising Week New York was truly a whirlwind experience! The energy of the city combined with the buzz of the industry's brightest minds coming together created an unparalleled atmosphere of innovation and collaboration. From keynote speakers shedding light on the latest trends to the diverse panel discussions touching on challenges and opportunities in the current ad landscape, every moment was a learning opportunity.

Can you tell us a bit about your hobbies and interests outside of work? What does Shaun do for fun?

Shaun: Soccer, Concerts, and Traveling are my favorite things to do! I’m a Manchester United fan and a US soccer fan. Both teams come with a lot of ups and downs but I wouldn’t change a thing. 

As for concerts, I love Lewis Capaldi, Harry Styles, Noah Kahan, and Dua Lipa (so basically all pop music haha).

Lastly, for traveling, my favorite places I’ve visited have always been in Europe. Whether it be Dublin, London, or Copenhagen — Europe has it all!