Embracing New Horizons - My Bow from Hero Media

A week ago today, I announced my exit from Hero Media Inc. , marking the end of a transformative chapter in my career and an entrance into a phase of bigger and better prospects for growth and impact.

The last time I sent you one of these newsletters was when I shared my commitment to creating a vision of inclusion and equity as President, Digital Innovation, at Hero Media. It has been an incredible journey, filled with groundbreaking achievements and unforgettable experiences.

It's safe to say I exceeded my expectations in terms of goals and results. My secret sauce? Efficiency wherever possible. By constantly seeking ways to streamline processes and optimize resources, I was able to achieve remarkable results in a relatively short period. Efficiency meant leveraging data-driven strategies, embracing cutting-edge technologies, and fostering a culture of collaboration and agility.

This relentless pursuit of efficiency empowered me to make such a significant impact and reach milestones that seemed ambitious at the outset. This approach allowed me to stay ahead of the curve, quickly adapt to changes, and seize new opportunities as they arose.

Joining Hero Media was one of those opportunities—a chance to build a greater vision, one that transcends racial boundaries and empowers diverse voices. In just ten months, we made modern-day Black history by launching the first Black-owned DSP in partnership with a publicly traded ad tech company, AdTheorent . This collaboration was a pioneering step in addressing the unique challenges of marketing and reaching the multicultural consumer at scale.

Another highlight of my time at the company was our impact at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity . Our presence at this prestigious event revealed a commitment to innovation and inclusivity. I am incredibly proud of how we showed up as a company, achieving 4X brand impact, 8X cultural impact, and 7X partnership growth, with new partnership additions such as 雅虎 , Interpublic Group (IPG) , 宝洁 , Shipt , Omnicom PR Group , VaynerX , and the numerous impactful partners who made it all possible.? Hosting the second annual Heroes of Media Awards Dinner at the Carlton Cannes was exhilarating. My nimble team rose to the occasion to execute 4 events during Cannes Lions, which was exhausting but rewarding and worth every moment to celebrate the culture’s impact on media, entertainment, and advertising. A special thank you to Kim Mercer , Tamara Boggis , Ayana Rivera and Victoria Park ; a small team of talented women really made a major mark. I am honored to have led the team and company to this point of success and could not have done it without them!

Inclusivity was at the forefront of my efforts, highlighted by my participation in co-hosting enlightening conversations at IPG's Common Ground with Channing Martin on inclusive media, hosting the Heroes of Media Afterparty at Yahoo Beach in partnership with Alicin Reidy Williamson and Nikki (Thompson) Williams and an unforgettable closing party with Gary Vaynerchuk , Avery Akkineni and the Vayner team on the VaynerX Yacht. Every move was about creating spaces for cultural and creative excellence. These events were more than just milestones; they were celebrations of the progress we made in promoting diversity and representation in the industry. My greatest thanks to our partners for joining forces to make the big vision a beautiful reality!

My work at Hero Media was driven by the belief that visual representation, cultural inclusion, and technological innovation are essential to modern-day marketing and advertising. We launched Hero One, the first ML-powered Black-owned DSP in programmatic advertising, marking a significant step toward greater equity in AdTech. The Heroes of Media Awards Dinner at Cannes celebrated champions of inclusive content and diverse media investments, reinforcing our mission to empower diverse media publishers and creators.

Reflecting on these achievements, I am reminded of one of the rules I live by Don’t Sit Still When You Achieve Your Goals. Use the momentum from your success to pursue new challenges and propel existing opportunities, because continuous growth is key to sustained success. This principle has guided me throughout my journey, driving me to push boundaries and seek new horizons.

While my time at Hero Media has come to an end, I am excited about the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. This chapter has been a valuable learning experience, and I am grateful for the support and collaboration of my colleagues and partners. Together, we have made a lasting impact, and I look forward to continuing this journey of growth and innovation.

Thank you for your support and encouragement throughout this incredible journey.? Here's to constantly pursuing greatness, everywhere!

All my best,

Lauren Maillian