Women In Media’s Juliette Stead: “Playing It Safe Isn’t An Option For Me”

Women In Media’s Juliette Stead: “Playing It Safe Isn’t An Option For Me”
B&T Magazine
Edited by B&T Magazine



For Julieette Stead, one of Women in Media’s nominated executives of the year, falling back on tropes is never a viable business approach. Playing it safe, she says, is never an option.

The Women in Media Awards, presented by Are Media, are just hours away, with the best of Australia’s media professionals set to be recognised and celebrated for their courage, innovation, and leadership.

The senior vice president of JAPAC at Magnite, Juliette Stead is a nominee at the Women in Media Awards for executive of the year, in one of the most competitive categories of the 2020 event.

A woman leader in what she describes as a male-dominated ad-tech industry, Stead believe it is her duty to draw attention to topics like gender equality, and the associated benefits of flexibility.

Speaking to B&T, she explained that removing the stigma attached to accommodating every day tasks, like school pick-ups, will allow professionals to thrive irrespective of their outside-of-work commitments.

Stead also reveals why the responsibility of effecting behavioural change in audiences must not be taken lightly.

Juliette, is being recognised as a professional working in the media important?

I’m not a big fan of showcasing myself and naturally prefer to focus on my team and our business success, but I must admit—it’s lovely to be recognised for hard work, commitment, and results!

How will you leverage your recognition as a Women in Media finalist as a force for good?

I’m passionate about the fact that having more women in senior roles—irrespective of the industry—will lead to greater business success and a more equal society, so you can expect to see me continue advocating for change.

Do you work for a living, or work because you love what you do?

There’s no question—I love what I do. I’m a serial career monogamist having worked with just four companies over the last twenty years. But despite having worked for the ‘same’ company for the last nine years, it’s actually been a period of constant change thanks to a series of acquisitions and mergers, most recently with Telaria and Rubicon Project becoming Magnite.

The old cliche of no two days being the same rings true and it’s one of the things that keeps me engaged.

What aspect of your industry, or your role, would you change for the better?

I’m a big advocate for equality, pushing for flexibility in the workplace that allows all to thrive irrespective of their outside-of-work commitments. I expect my team to fulfil their potential, strive for excellence, be ambitious, and work hard—but I don’t think they always need to be in an office to do that.

If businesses improve how they approach flexibility for every employee, then we can all just get on with our jobs without there being any stigma attached to accommodating school pick-ups, for example. I work hard to champion a very flexible workplace at Magnite in JAPAC and I’d love to see a more consistent approach across the industry.

Do we have a right, as media professionals, to advocate, to influence, and to change people’s behaviour?

I think we have the right, as humans, to an opinion. If we’re confident about those opinions, and share our views with honesty and integrity, then maybe we will create change and influence people.

But we are all different, and we’re all products of our own experience, so we can never expect everybody to agree with us. If that happened it would lead to a homogenous society, which would be terribly dull…

As a woman in a senior role in ad-tech, which is a male dominated industry, I believe it is my duty to draw attention to topics such as gender equality, and the associated benefits of flexibility.

In shaky and uncertain times of change, will playing it safe, and falling back on tropes, get businesses through?

I don’t believe that falling back on tropes is ever a viable business approach. I’m very proud of my team’s unrelenting commitment to prioritising the needs of our clients during these challenging times.

We approach our clients’ business needs with ambition and confidence, while ensuring that our publishers are best positioned to provide a strong audience and advertising experience.

It’s important that we help broadcasters understand the opportunities that our tech creates and advise them on how best to harness that technology to achieve growth for their business.

As the leading video SSP in the local market, Magnite facilitates the vast majority of the programmatic video trading in-market. And through the challenging market conditions of the last six months, we have solidified our position as the programmatic partner of choice for Australia’s major broadcasters and publishers.

Playing it safe isn’t an option for me. We have to strive for excellence and be the best, especially during times of uncertainty and change.

Where is your industry’s biggest opportunity? And where is your industry’s biggest danger?

One of the biggest opportunities is identity. The industry is going to have to move quickly in order to provide a comprehensive and sustainable solution to identity that protects users, allows publishers to monetise their inventory, and enables brands to reach their audiences effectively.

It’s going to take a significant investment of time, energy and resources to develop an industry-wide solution for identity, but it will be beneficial in the longer term. We’re heavily involved and invested in a collaborative solution. We also work closely with multiple broadcasters who have implemented universal IDs.

We partner closely with these partners who have embraced alternative solutions to grow audiences and create business success.

The biggest danger? The risk of the industry losing alternatives to walled gardens. It’s so important for the industry’s long term success for brands to continue to have the opportunity to engage with audiences in safe environments across a broad range of broadcasters and premium direct publishers, with transparent trading methods that enable effective ad spend that delivers excellent results.

The Women in Media Awards will be held virtually on Wednesday 28 October 2020.

If you’d like more information about the event, head to this website.

You can also check out who made this year’s shortlist, here.

Thank you to all of our incredible sponsors for making the event possible!




Please login with linkedin to comment

Juliette Stead women in media awards

Latest News

JOLT Launches Industry First In-App Advertising Solution
  • Advertising

JOLT Launches Industry First In-App Advertising Solution

JOLT, Australia’s third-party verified, sustainable digital-out-of-home and electric vehicle charging network, today announced the launch of a first-to-market product that enables brands to further engage with high-value audiences with its new in-app advertising solution. The first of its kind in Australia’s media industry, this solution provides an unparalleled one-to-one connection with customers, whilst charging their […]

Ideally Nabs Simon Gawn From Denomination
  • Marketing

Ideally Nabs Simon Gawn From Denomination

Customer insights platform, Ideally, has expanded its regional footprint as part of its ambitious growth strategy, announcing the appointment of Simon Gawn to lead Australian operations. Ideally appoints Gawn on the back of exponential growth since launching in August this year, already boasting a strong and established Australian-based client roster. Gawn’s immediate remit is to capitalise on Ideally’s significant growth opportunities in Australia, a market five times larger than New Zealand.

SurfStitch Unveils New Brand Position & Summer Campaign
  • Campaigns

SurfStitch Unveils New Brand Position & Summer Campaign

Aussie coastal lifestyle brand SurfStitch has announced a bold repositioning with a new brand identity and campaign, “Ready for Everywhere”. Reflecting the brand’s commitment to inspiring people to embrace their lifestyle, whatever it may be, the strategic shift reflects a commitment to facilitating style that adapts to the life its customers lead across a broad […]

Man of Many Welcomes Naman Singh & Alex Martinez
  • Media

Man of Many Welcomes Naman Singh & Alex Martinez

Man of Many has Announced Key Hires Amidst a Year of Extraordinary Achievement Lead image: Naman Singh & Alex Martinez Man of Many, recently crowned B&T media platform of the year, Australia’s premier men’s lifestyle digital publication. Announces the addition of two crucial members to its team – Naman Singh as SEO Content Specialist and […]

realestate.com.au Extends Major Partnership With Sydney Swans
  • Marketing

realestate.com.au Extends Major Partnership With Sydney Swans

Australian property site realestate.com.au has announced the extension of its partnership with the Sydney Swans for two further seasons. Lead image: Tom Harley, Owen Wilson and Tom McCartin realestate.com.au has partnered with the Swans since 2016 and has called the back of the club’s iconic guernsey home since becoming a major partner in 2020. This […]

Avenue C Nabs Paula Lopes From KINESSO
  • Marketing

Avenue C Nabs Paula Lopes From KINESSO

Leading independent media agency, Avenue C, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Paula Lopes as Digital Director. Paula, a seasoned professional with over 17 years experience in the media industry, joins Avenue C from her role as Chief Operations Manager of KINESSO (merger of Reprise, Matterkind, and Kinesso specialities).

oOh!Media Fuses People & Performance At National Annual Revenue & Growth Conference
  • Advertising

oOh!Media Fuses People & Performance At National Annual Revenue & Growth Conference

oOh!media brought together more than 260 of its sales, operations, commercial, marketing, finance and leadership teams last week for its national annual revenue and growth conference. Held over two days at the picturesque Rydges Resort in Hunter Valley, the event ‘Fusing people and performance’ focussed on how to build a high-performance mindset and how it […]

Free TV Welcomes Government’s Prominence & Anti-Siphoning Framework
  • Media

Free TV Welcomes Government’s Prominence & Anti-Siphoning Framework

Free TV has welcomed the federal government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Australians can access their local free television services on connected TVs through the introduction of legislation to implement a prominence framework in coming days. Free TV CEO Bridget Fair (lead image) said: “Right now, Australian viewers are being steered in the direction […]

Tyreright Appoints 27 Degrees Media
  • Marketing

Tyreright Appoints 27 Degrees Media

New-generation media agency 27 Degrees Media has been appointed to manage digital media for national tyre retailer Tyreright in one of its first Australian client signings. Lead Image: Loan Morris – 27 Degrees Media CEO Under the partnership, 27 Degrees Media will be responsible for all digital media strategy, planning and buying, along with influencer […]

farsiight Unveils New Market Positioning Putting Growth for Good Over Growth At All Costs
  • Marketing

farsiight Unveils New Market Positioning Putting Growth for Good Over Growth At All Costs

Brisbane performance agency farsiight has announced the launch of its new market positioning, Growth for Good, in response to a changing business landscape, marking a departure from a “growth at all costs” mentality that has defined the industry in recent years. Agency founders and brother duo, Josh and Ben Somerville, envision Growth for Good as […]

By Land Or By Sea: GoTransit Offers Options Galore For Transit Advertisers In Newcastle
  • Advertising

By Land Or By Sea: GoTransit Offers Options Galore For Transit Advertisers In Newcastle

Australia’s largest privately owned transit media supplier, GoTransit Media Group, now offers unprecedented options for transit advertising in Newcastle – on both land and sea following their successful tender to supply interior advertising inside the popular Stockton Ferries. The national transit media company is already well acquainted with the thriving NSW market, having successfully operated […]

‘People First Bank’ Heritage & People’s Choice Bank Unified
  • Marketing

‘People First Bank’ Heritage & People’s Choice Bank Unified

Heritage and People’s Choice have launched People First Bank, the new name for positive change in banking Australia’s largest customer-owned bank has unveiled its new brand, announcing that Heritage and People’s Choice will be unified under the new name of People First Bank. Chairman Michael Cameron said the highly anticipated new brand offered a compelling […]