Impacting Ad Tech: A Q&A with Alison Harding, Finalist for Ad Tech Personality of the Year

With The Wires Awards ceremony approaching, Lotame’s VP of Data Solutions EMEA, Alison Harding, sat down for a Q&A to discuss her Ad Tech Personality of the Year nomination, recognising her 20-year-long impact on the industry. 

Alison sheds light on her journey in a few key areas: juggling career growth and family life, the shifts she’s observed in ad tech, and the importance of representation in leadership roles. 

1. What does being recognised as an Ad Tech Personality of the Year nominee mean to you personally and professionally?

Honestly, this feels really special. I couldn’t quite believe I had been nominated, let alone shortlisted in the final 15. I’ve been in this industry for many, many years now and I’ve spent it trying to balance raising a family while building a career in tech, doing both at full speed. So being recognised like this is a real reminder that you can keep growing, keep contributing, and still stay true to who you are both inside and outside of the workplace.

I hope it sends a message to other women, especially those juggling kids, careers, and everything in between, that your voice matters, your leadership matters, and you absolutely have a place in shaping the future of this industry.

2. How is it being a woman, and a parent, in the ad tech industry? Are there things you’d like to see changed? 

There has already been a massive shift in flexibility and support for parents, which is great. I’d also love to see more women in leadership, because representation matters and really goes a long way. When young women see people like them thriving in the industry, it sends a powerful message that they belong here, too.

3. How did you first get into the ad tech industry, and what has made you stay?  

I actually started in newspaper advertising sales and spent 12 years there, so moving into Ad Tech felt like a natural progression. I was curious about how technology was changing the way people connect with media, and I wanted to be part of that evolution.

What made me stay? Honestly, it’s the constant innovation and the people. Ad tech never stands still. There’s always something new to learn, new challenges to tackle, and brilliant people to collaborate with. It’s easy to underestimate the human side — building relationships, listening, collaborating. This is what’s vital and also makes working in this industry most enjoyable. 

4. What’s been the biggest change for you this past year? 

This year’s been really exciting and honestly, a little bit of a whirlwind. We are a small, close-knit team at Lotame, so getting acquired by Publicis and Epsilon has been a massive change. It’s opened up amazing new opportunities and brought a fresh energy to everything we do. On the other hand, transitions like this aren’t easy; there’s a lot to adapt to. With new processes and new ways of working, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. It reminded me why I love this industry: it’s constantly evolving and full of possibilities. 

5. How do you think the ad tech landscape has changed most dramatically since you started?

When I first started, ad tech was still kind of new. A lot of it felt experimental, and it was mostly about reach and volume. But the landscape has transformed a lot since then. Now, everything is driven by data and analytics, and the level of personalisation and automation is incredible.

6. If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their ad tech career, what would it be?

If you’re starting in ad tech, stay curious and keep learning. Tech moves fast, so make sure you get involved in groups that support females in the industry, such as Bloom, Ad tech chats, Digital Leading Ladies and The Women in Programmatic Network. Being part of networks like these helps you grow, learn, and connect with amazing people in the industry.

Recognizing a True Ad Tech Leader

At Lotame, we couldn’t be prouder and more excited to see Alison not only nominated but recognised as a finalist for Ad Tech Personality of the Year. We wish her the best of luck on November 13 at the awards ceremony!   

If you’d like to connect with Alison or learn more about her work, you can find her on LinkedIn.