Over the past several months, OpenAP has been building an Engineering team from the ground up that is not only the driving force behind a better product offering for media buyers and sellers, but is building a better future for all of data driven video advertising.
Read on to get to know some members of our Engineering team and how they are driving lasting industry change, and stay tuned for more spotlights on our OpenAPeeps in the coming weeks.
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
AS: That was easy. Having the opportunity to work with former co-workers (who have also become my friends over the years) from the across media and ad tech industry was a no brainer for me. The most important thing I value in a job is working with great people, and this group has some of my faves.
What fires you up about your role?
AS: Other than the people I get to work with, I'd say what fires me up about my role is getting to utilize all aspects of what I enjoy about building products--a mix of software development, UI design, user experience, and product. I also like that we're a small team which allows everyone to have a large impact.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
AS: Coming from TrueX, where we had a very innovative ad unit, I'm always hoping to see a new type of ad creative that isn't just a 30-sec commercial. Perhaps someone can finally figure out how to successfully execute an interactive video ad.
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
AS: I was inspired by the mission. I've been working in the media industry for a while, and know that innovation around how the industry monetizes its content will be key in the coming years. With OpenAP’s work to innovate in the advanced advertising space, I feel like I can be part of the solution.
What fires you up about your role?
AS: Building out the engineering culture and seeing how all the bits come together. It's a small team that is a pleasure to work with. I really feel like the things I'm doing are impactful and can see a clear line to the business that we are all growing. Also, just learning stuff! There are some amazingly smart people here that know so much, I'm just soaking it all in.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
AS: I think privacy laws will be a thing to navigate over the next year. I’m glad to see companies coming to the table with solutions to allow collaboration in a privacy centric way like data clean rooms. I expect this to continue to ramp up and hope the separate cloud companies look at ways for cross cloud collaboration.
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
JA: One of the biggest reasons I joined this company was the people. From my first interactions, it was clear that the team is made up of smart, driven, and highly collaborative individuals who genuinely care about the work they do. The culture here encourages innovation, knowledge-sharing, and a strong sense of ownership, which makes for an exciting and supportive environment. Being surrounded by talented engineers who push each other to build great solutions was a huge draw for me, and I knew this was a place where I could contribute, grow, and make a real impact.
What fires you up about your role?
JA: I thrive on solving complex problems and continuously learning new skills, which is why working in ad tech is so exciting. It’s a fast-moving and ever-evolving field that presents a lot of unique technical challenges. The dynamic nature of this space keeps me engaged, and I love being part of a team that’s always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
JA: I hope to see more innovation around delivering high-impact ads while minimizing unnecessary repetition. Consumers are inundated with content, and respecting their time is crucial to maintaining engagement and trust. By making every impression more meaningful and reducing ad fatigue, we can create a better experience for audiences while driving stronger results for advertisers.
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
JB: There were many reasons I chose to join the OpenAP team, but what excited me most is being part of a small group that’s doing really big things. If I'm putting 40+ hours a week into something, I want my efforts to make an impact. And I want to be working with others who also “lean in” to a challenge. I found that here.
What fires you up about your role?
JB: I love problem-solving, and I love making customers' lives better. In this role, I get to do both of those things every day.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
JB: I hope we see the increased audience-based targeting lead to higher conversion rates for advertisers, better CPMs for publishers, and lighter ad loads for viewers. Is that dream too much to ask?
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
RB: OpenAP is in an interesting space where they are primed for accelerated scale and growth from both a business and tech perspective, and I’m excited to be a part of that.
What fires you up about your role?
RB: I'm really happy about this role because of the significant impact it allows me to make on our projects, directly benefiting our users from the outset. I also appreciate the level of independence and growth potential available to me as an engineer in this position. The autonomy to drive projects forward and the opportunities for personal development are both exciting and rewarding for me.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
RB: Maybe something like in that episode of Futurama where Fry gets ads in his dreams. (LOL) But seriously, I think it looks like the near future is ripe for change and innovation and I’m excited to see OpenAP playing a part in that as well.
Why did you decide to join OpenAP?
SR: The innovative collaboration of four major media and entertainment companies to address industry-wide challenges and establish standards deeply resonated with me, inspiring my decision to join OpenAP. OpenAP's mission to enhance efficiency and deliver benefits to various stakeholders within the ad tech industry through unified standards and processes intrigued me, motivating me to be part of this transformative journey.
What fires you up about your role?
SR: Being a data engineer, I'm thrilled to align with a company where data is at the heart of its product. Joining OpenAP's core engineering team offers me the opportunity to contribute to the company's growth and development from its foundational stage. The chance to shape engineering standards and best practices for OpenAP's data engineering practice ignites my passion for this role. Working as an early-stage developer of the product allows me to play a crucial role in its evolution. I'm energized by the prospect of working alongside a dynamic team at OpenAP, leveraging my skills to propel the business forward while contributing to the establishment of innovative engineering solutions.
What's one innovation that you expect or hope to see in premium video advertising in the next year?
SR: Looking ahead to the next broadcast year, I expect to see increased adoption of addressable advertising techniques, enabling advertisers to target specific audience segments with tailored advertisements for enhanced relevance and effectiveness.
Ready to be part of the future of TV advertising? We’re hiring and we’d love to get to know you.